Evaluation of Poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh.) Boundary Plantation Based Agri-silvicultural System for Wheat-Paddy Yield and Carbon Storage

Wheat and paddy (rice) yield was accessed with respect to aspect as well as distance from the base of poplar tree lines in all the four directions. Wheat and paddy yield was found maximum on Southern aspect (4.11t/ha and 5.06 t/ha, respectively), whereas, it was found minimum on Northern aspect (2.5 t/ha and 4.13 t/ha, respectively). Distance from tree base also played significant role on the yield of grain crops. The yield of wheat as well as paddy increased with the increase in distance from the boundary tree lines. Crop yield increased with increase in distance from 2m to 10 m distance from the poplar trees (wheat:2.85 t/ha to 3.63 t/ha and paddy:3.22 t/ha to 5.66 t/ha). However, in control conditions wheat and paddy yield was 4.47 t/ha and 6.96 t/ha, respectively. There was a decrease of 33.75 and 36.15 per cent in paddy and 26.68 and 25.69 per cent in wheat under 5th and 6th year old poplar boundary plantation than the control. Soil parameters (organic carbon, total nitrogen, Available P and K) were also accessed to quantify the effect of this system on nutrients on all the four directions along with the carbon storage in the biomass, which were significantly influenced by the poplar plantation.