Interactive Effect of Integrated Nitrogen Management on Wheat Production in Acacia nilotica- and Eucalyptus camaldulensis-based Alley Cropping Systems

Abstract

Rapidly increasing population and shrinking farm resources are threatening the future of food security in developing countries. Under such conditions, development of agroforestry systems to meet the increasing demand of food, forage and wood is urgently needed. The objective of present research was to evaluate comparative effect of nitrogen management sources viz inorganic and organic on wheat production in Acacia nilotica-and Eucalyptus camaldulensis-based agroforestry systems established in saline environments. Three experiments were conducted at Biosaline Research Station, Pakka Anna, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan for two consecutive wheat cropping years (2011)(2012)(2013). Agroforestry systems included Acacia-and Eucalyptus-wheat based systems in addition to sole wheat cropping in open field conditions. Experimental treatments comprised of nitrogen fertilizer 60, 120 kg ha -1 and farmyard manure 20 Mg ha -1 each alone and in different combinations in addition to a control -with no nitrogen and farmyard manure applied in randomized complete block design. Application of organic manure and nitrogen fertilizer separately or combined under open and agroforestry systems influenced wheat crop. The results showed that different nitrogen levels had significant (p<0.05) effect on number of productive tillers, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield in each alley cropping system. Performance of yield contributing attributes was found the best in open field system whereas reduction was observed in Acacia-and Eucalyptus-wheat based systems to varying extent. Based on two years average, maximum grain yield was obtained in open field followed by Acacia-and Eucalyptus-wheat based systems with application of N 60 kg+ FYM 20 Mg ha -1. These results suggest that farmers may adopt Acacia-based agroforestry systems for wheat production as compared to Eucalyptus-based systems for wheat productions in salt-affected areas.

Guideline for Salinity Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation Using Nuclear and Related Techniques

“…Organic amendments, when applied in conjunction with inorganic amendments, can be more effective (Dargan et al 1976). Awan et al (2015) reported that application of farm yard manure alone or in combination with inorganic N fertilizer has significant effect on wheat yield on saline-sodic soil both under monoculture and in agro-forestry systems. The selection of the organic matter to be applied is very important in order to avoid causing N deficiency (adding an amendment which has too high C:N ratio) and also increase salinity (e.g., cow dung slurry).…”

Green manure for soil salinity reclamation- A comprehensive review

“…Suriyan Cha-um and Chalermpol Kirdmanee (2011) reported that green manure mixed with FYM (Farm yard manure) increased the level of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll pigments in RD6 (Oryza sativa L. spp. indica ) rice grown in saline soil (2% salt level).Use of compost, FYM and sesbania is useful for enhancing yield of rice-wheat production grown from salt affected soil environment , Awan et al, 2015. Tamarind, Pavetta indica, Thespesia, neem and sunn hemp were also effective against salinity and were used to improve the soil fertility (Vakeesan et al, 2008).…”

Comparative Study of Ground and Surface Water Quality Assessment Using Water Quality Index (Wqi) in Model Colony Malir, Karachi, Pakistan

“…Waste water of livestock contains high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, organic and inorganic nitrogen compound, and pathogenic bacteria, reported that ground and surface water of Model Colony in which human activities associated with urbanization, mixing of sewage water in water reservoirs during rainy seasons, industrialization, and agricultural activities are extremely main sources of pollution (Gasim et al, 2009). Industrialization and emergence of urban units placed immense stress on water resources and discharge of wastewater into natural water resources that decreases ground and surface water quality (Awan et al, 2002). Most of the previous studies about water resources have focused on agriculture, the power industry, the petroleum refinery industry, the dyeing and finishing industry (Sanjrani et al 2019;Chen et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2016;Sanjrani et al 2018;Bakken et al, 2016;Mughees et al, 2015;Takama et al, 1980).…”