Comparative effect of NPK levels, organic manures and biofertilizer on growth & yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under chironji (Buchanania lanzan spreng.) based agroforestry system

Introduction

Agroforestry is a dynamic and ecologically oriented land-use system that integrates trees and other woody perennials into farms and rangelands to diversify production while ensuring environmental, social, and economic benefits. By combining trees, shrubs, crops, and sometimes livestock, agroforestry aims to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability of ecosystems (National Agroforestry Policy, 2014). Globally, approximately 43% of agricultural land (over one billion hectares) has more than 10% tree cover, with 160 million hectares exceeding 50% tree coverage. The presence of trees in agricultural landscapes has been shown to improve nutrition, income, housing, health, energy security, and environmental sustainability, forming the basis of "evergreen agriculture" promoted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF, 2008). The primary objective of agroforestry is to optimize production and economic returns per unit area while maintaining sustainability. To achieve this, several agroforestry models have been developed, combining tree-crop-livestock systems to maximize economic returns either simultaneously or sequentially. Such models are designed to be technologically feasible, ecologically sustainable, economically viable, and socially acceptable. Buchanania lanzan, commonly known as Chironji, Cuddapah almond, or Char, is a valuable tree species native to India and widely distributed across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Southeast Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Its timber is moderately termite-resistant and is used for furniture, boxes, crates, and agricultural implements, while the gum and lac support the livelihoods of tribal communities, especially in Sonbhadra District of Uttar Pradesh. Despite its socioeconomic importance, over-exploitation and indiscriminate harvesting have caused a decline in Chironji populations, posing a threat to its survival (Kumar et al., 2019; Chauhan et al., 2012) [1,13] . Additionally, insect pests such as the stem borer Plocaederus obesus further threaten its productivity. Wheat, an annual crop of the Gramineae family, is extensively cultivated in India over 27.92 million ha, producing approximately 80.71 million tons at an average productivity of 2,891 kg/ha. India contributes roughly 12% of the world's wheat production. Over the last 35 years, wheat production has increased by more than 600%, with nutrient consumption rising from 3 kg/ha in 1961 to 91 kg/ha in 2009 (The Hindu Survey of Indian Agriculture, 2012). While wheat requires adequate nutrition for optimum growth, organic manures alone are insufficient to meet its nutrient demands, resulting in lower yields. Timely application of chemical fertilizers significantly enhances wheat productivity. Studies have shown that combining mineral fertilizers with organic manures improves plant growth, field efficiency, and water use efficiency. Inoculation with biofertilizers further enhances crop growth, tiller survival, and yield. Proper plant nutrition using organic manures is fundamental for sustainable agriculture, improving both the quality and quantity of agricultural produce while enhancing soil health. Organic fertilizers increase soil biological activity, improve nutrient availability, maintain soil structure, and enhance the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Vermicompost is a nature-friendly biotechnological process that converts organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Its application increases soil micronutrient content, particularly zinc and copper, while improving soil health (Thakur et al., 2003) [15] . Azotobacter, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium, contributes 25-30 kg N/ha, enhancing wheat yield and quality. Integrating organic manures and biofertilizers with chemical fertilizers not only sustains soil fertility but also reduces dependence on chemical inputs, supporting long-term crop productivity. Despite the recommended doses of chemical fertilizers, wheat productivity is plateauing due to soil degradation and depletion of organic matter and nutrients. Therefore, it is essential to explore integrated nutrient management practices combining organic manures, biofertilizers, and chemical fertilizers to maintain soil fertility, improve crop growth, and enhance yield sustainably under Chironji-based agroforestry systems.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 13 treatment combinations, each replicated three times, resulting in a total of 39 plots. The wheat variety DBW 187 was used, and treatments were randomly allocated within each replication. The treatments included combinations of inorganic fertilizers (NPK), organic manures (FYM, vermicompost, poultry manure), and biofertilizer (Azotobacter) at different proportions: T 0 -Absolute Control; T 1 -25% NPK + 75% FYM; T 2 -50% NPK + 50% FYM; T 3 -75% NPK + 25% FYM; T 4 -25% NPK + 75% Vermicompost; T 5 -50% NPK + 50% Vermicompost; T 6 -75% NPK + 25% Vermicompost; T 7 -25% NPK + 75% Poultry Manure; T 8 -50% NPK + 50% Poultry Manure; T 9 -75% NPK + 25% Poultry Manure; T 10 -25% NPK + 75% Azotobacter; T 11 -50% NPK + 50% Azotobacter; and T 12 -75% NPK + 25% Azotobacter. The soil at the experimental site was sandy loam, with baseline characteristics varying slightly under open conditions and under Chironji trees. Under open conditions, the soil pH was 6.9, organic carbon 0.28%, electrical conductivity 0.12 dS/m, nitrogen 248 kg/ha, phosphorus (P₂O₅) 14 kg/ha, and potassium (K₂O) 170 kg/ha, whereas under Chironji, the respective values were 6.6, 0.38%, 0.16 dS/m, 231 kg/ha, 20 kg/ha, and 187 kg/ha (KVK, Allahabad, 2025). This experimental setup allowed assessment of integrated nutrient management using inorganic, organic, and biofertilizer sources in wheat under Chironji-based agroforestry systems.

Results and Discussion

The pre harvest data on the plant height, number of tillers , leaf length are presented on table 2 under open and under Chironji based Agroforestry System which revealed that there were significant differences between organic and combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the growth parameters. At harvest, yield attributes of wheat showed significant differences among the treatments under both Chironji-based agroforestry and open field conditions. The maximum panicle length under Chironji was observed in T 6 (75% NPK + 25% Vermicompost) at 14.40 cm, followed closely by T 3 (75% NPK + 25% FYM) at 14.30 cm, while the shortest panicles were recorded in the control T 0 (9.63 cm). In the open field, the highest panicle length was noted in T 6 (15.03 cm), followed by T 3 (14.73 cm), with the minimum in T 0 (10.7 cm), corroborating the findings of Santhosh and Mehera (2022).

The number of grains per panicle was also highest in T 6 (30.41 under Chironji; 32.63 in open field), followed by T 3 (29.60; 31.2), whereas T 0 recorded the lowest values (20.2; 22.63). Similarly, test weight reached its maximum in T 6 (49.47 g under Chironji; 51.17 g in open field), followed by T 3 (48.93 g; 50.47 g), with the minimum observed in T 0 (44.67 g; 45.27 g), aligning with results reported by Prajapati et al. (2022) [9] . Overall, the treatment T 6 (75% NPK + 25% Vermicompost) consistently resulted in superior yield attributes, highlighting the effectiveness of integrating chemical fertilizers with organic manures for enhancing wheat productivity under both agroforestry and open field systems. and not yet producing fruits. However, in the long term, Chironji-based agroforestry is expected to generate higher income once the trees start yielding fruits after 3-4 years, with Chironji kernels fetching ₹600-2,000 per kilogram in the Indian market. Consequently, the B:C ratio of the agroforestry system is likely to increase, making it more profitable than monoculture cultivation. It is therefore recommended that further long-term research be carried out on this agroforestry model to validate its economic potential and to encourage adoption by farmers for sustained productivity and profitability.

Yield Attributes

References

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