Growth characteristics of multipurpose tree species, crop productivity and soil properties in agroforestry systems under subtropical humid climate in India

Abstract

Multipurpose tree species (MPTs) were studied in an agroforestry arboretum under subtropical humid climate in Northeast India. Out of 12 MPTs planted under agroforestry systems, Acacia auriculiformis in spacing of 2 m × 2 m (2500 stems·hm⁻²) could have the potentiality to meet the timber/fuelwood requirement due to its high wood production of 635 m³·hm⁻² with mean annual increment (MAI) of 2.54×10⁻²·m³·tree¹·a⁻¹ in a short rotation period of 10 years. Thus, A. auriculiformis is a short rotation forest tree species suitable to grow in subtropical humid climate. On the other hand, at 16 years of age, Eucalyptus hybrid and Michelia champaca in spacing of 3 m × 3 m (1111 stems·hm⁻²) produced appreciably high timber volume of 315 m³·hm^–2 and 165 m³·hm⁻² with MAI of 1.77×10⁻² m³·tree⁻¹·a⁻¹ and 0.92×10⁻² m³·tree⁻¹·a⁻¹, respectively. At 16 years of age, Gmelina arborea produced a timber volume of 147 m³·hm⁻² with MAI of 1.47×10^–2 m³·tree⁻¹·a⁻¹ followed by Samania saman (140 m³·hm⁻²), Albizzia procera (113 m³·hm⁻²) and Tectona grandis (79 m³·hm⁻²) with MAI of 1.40, 1.13 and 0.78 × 10⁻² m³·tree⁻¹·a⁻¹, respectively in 4 m × 4 m spacing (625 stems·hm⁻²). Gliricidia maculata and Leucaena leucocephala could be used as live fences around the farm boundary to supply their N-rich leaves for mulch as well as manure to crops. In agroforestry arboretum, direct seeded upland rice (Oryza sativa-variety, AR-11), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea-variety, JL-24) and sesamum (Sesamum indicum-variety, B-67) were grown during the initial period upto 8 years of tree establishment. Under other MPTs, there was a reduction in crop productivity as compared to open space. After 8 years of tree establishment, horti-silvi and silvi-pastoral systems were developed and pineapple (Ananas comosus-variety Queen), turmeric (Curcuma longa-variety RCT-1) and cowpea (Vigna sinensis-variety Pusa Barsati) as forage crop were raised. The productivity of pineapple, turmeric and cowpea was comparatively high under Azadirachta indica. The productivity of horticultural and forage crops in association with trees such as G. arborea, A. procera, S. saman, T. grandis and M. champaca of high timber value could be harnessed as viable agroforestry systems. Changes in soil properties were also monitored. Amelioration of soil acidity, increase in soil organic carbon, and enhanced humification of soil humus, high nutrient availability, low soil erodibility and high surface soil (0–15 cm) moisture availability were noted in soils under MPTs.

Keywords

Multipurpose trees / Subtropical humid climate / Growth characteristics / Timber volume / Crop productivity / Soil organic carbon / Soil humus / Nutrient availability / Soil erodibility indices / Soil moisture

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