MANAGEMENT OF MARGINAL AND DEGRADED LANDS THROUGH AGROFORESTRY IN THE NORTH WESTERN OUTER HIMALAYA

Abstract

N THE PAPER DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY CONDUCTED AT SELAKUI ( DEHRADUN) DURING 1986-92 TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF PLANTING DIRECTION AND ROOT PRUNING OF TREES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CROPS, TREES AND IMPROVEMENT OF RAVINE LANDS. THE RESULTS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO ADVERSE EFFECT OF TREES ON CROP YIELDS UPTO THREE YEARS. AFTERWARDS REDUCTION IN YIELDS NEAR THE EUCALYPTUS TREE LINE WAS RECORDED IN BOTH CEREALS AS WELL AS OIL SEEDS. TRENCHED PLOTS WHERE TREE ROOTS WERE PRUNED RECORDED HIGHER YIELDS NEAR TREE/CROP INTERFACE BY 31.2 , 37.4, 51.0 AND 51.4 % IN MAIZE , WHEAT , SESAME AND TORIA RESPECTIVELY. EAST- WEST ASPECT RECORDED 18.8% HIGHER WHEAT YIELDS DUE TO BETTER LIGHT AVAILABILITY. PRUNING OF ROOTS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED TREE GROWTH. BAUHINIA PURPUREA WAS FOUND MORE COMPATIBLE WITH CROPS THAN GREWIA OPTIVA. AFTER 7 YEARS OF PLANTATION, THERE WAS REDUCTION IN SOIL pH BY 0.3 UNITS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ORGANIC CARBON BY 0.15% AND DECREASE IN BULK DENSITY AND IMPROVEMENT IN WATER HOLDING CAPACITY IN SUCH DEGRADED LANDS.