Productivity and economic evaluation of Willow (Salix alba L.) based silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley
Open Access
- 10 September 2019
- journal article
- Published by ANSF Publications in Journal of Applied and Natural Science
- Vol. 11 (3), 743-751
- https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v11i3.2104
Abstract
Performance of two fodder crops namely, sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) was investigated with Willow (Salix alba L.) to evaluate productivity and economics of the silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley. The experiment was laid out by planting two year old willows at 2.0m × 2.0m spacing and dividing the main plot into sub-plots of size 8m × 2m each with 5 replications in randomized block design (RDB). The intercrops of sorghum and maize were maintained at 20cm × 10 cm spacing and supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers. The economics of the willow plantation intercropped with fodder crops was compared with sole willow farming by the benefit-cost ratio and net present worth. The study revealed the differential behaviour of Salix alba regarding growth parameters (height, diameter and girth) by different intercrops and various fodder intercrops with respect to yield, above ground biomass, dry matter production and soil nutrient status (pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). The willow based silvopastoral system was estimated to have benefit-cost ratio of 2.71 with maize and 2.68 with sorghum, while as sole crop the willows accrued a benefit-cost ratio of 2.66. The study is useful in discovering growth of willows, productivity of fodder crops and soil nutrient status under various silvopastoral agroforestry systems for maximizing economic gains. The findings envisaged evidences in favour of adopting willow based silvopastoral agroforestry instead of sole tree farming and the knowledge of interactions will be helpful in proper management of the system for sustained multiple productions.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluating Sustainability in Traditional Silvopastoral Systems (caívas): Looking Beyond the Impact of Animals on BiodiversitySustainability, 2019
- Economic profitability of agroforestry in nitrate vulnerable zones in Catalonia (NE Spain)Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2019
- Evaluation of agroforestry systems for maize (Zea mays) productivity in South AfricaSouth African Journal of Plant and Soil, 2018
- Public Assessment for Socioeconomic and Environmental Services of Agroforestry Networks in Kashmir Himalaya, IndiaInternational Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2017
- Indigenous knowledge in traditional agroforestry systems of Kashmir valley: Current challenges and future opportunitiesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FORESTRY AND CROP IMPROVEMENT, 2017
- Accumulation and properties of soil organic carbon at reclaimed sites in the Lusatian lignite mining district afforested with Pinus sp.Geoderma, 2005
- The economics of tropical agroforestry systems: the case of agroforestry farms in CameroonForest Policy and Economics, 2005
- Directions in Tropical Agroforestry ResearchPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1998
- Costs, benefits, and farmer adoption of agroforestryPublished by World Bank ,1995
- State-of-the-art of agroforestry systemsForest Ecology and Management, 1991