Evaluation of Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta Linn.) under Morus alba-based agroforestry system in the mid-hills of Indian Himalayas: influence of tree canopy and organic mulches
摘要
Agroforestry is gaining attention as a sustainable food system that also contributes to maintaining soil health and environmental stability. Hence, the current experiment was established in a split-plot design; focused on cultivating Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott in Morus alba L.-based agroforestry systems and open field condition (main plots) with ten different mulch applications (sub plots) namely, mulch of Toona ciliata + farmyard manure (FYM) + Recommended Doses Fertilizers (@ N:P:K:: 110:60:50 kg ha−1) (RDF); Pinus roxburghii + FYM + RDF; Celtis australis + FYM + RDF; Ulmus villosa + FYM + RDF; Artemisia vulgaris + FYM + RDF; Pistacia integrimma + FYM + RDF; Phyllostachys aurea + FYM + RDF; Melia composita + FYM + RDF; and FYM + RDF and control conditions, each replicated thrice. The results demonstrated that the canopy of M. alba had a minimal influence on the total yield of Colocasia; however, increases in some yield traits, such as corms per plant and corm fresh weight were observed despite decreasing the amount of light transmitted through the tree canopy by 29.51%. Moreover, the highest growth and yield traits, viz., number of sprouted rhizomes (79.36%), tillers per plant (5.95), corms per plant (11.28), and yield (19.18 t ha−1) were observed under T. ciliata + FYM + RDF mulch treatment. Simultaneously, the soil analysis indicated that under M. alba canopy had a higher available potassium (246.89 kg ha−1), phosphorus (50.812 kg ha−1), nitrogen (358.78 kg ha−1) and organic carbon (1.35%) compared to open cropping. Among different mulch treatments, the application of P. aurea + FYM + RDF mulch considerably improved soil health. Overall, the study concluded that C. esculenta can be grown in an agroforestry system without any significant reduction in yield, and the use of organic mulches such as P. aurea, T. ciliata, and C. australis can further enhance the growth and yield of Colocasia, making it a viable option for increasing the regenerative capacity of the soil.