SOIL PHYSICO CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, WHEAT GRAIN YIELD AND ECONOMICS OF POPULUS DELTOIDES BASED AGRO FORESTRY SYSTEM

The research was carried out to determine the effect of Populus deltoides trees on the soil physical and chemical properties and grain yield of wheat crop under the agro ecological conditions of Faisalabad (Punjab), Pakistan. Two fields were selected; one with wheat monoculture and the other had boundary trees of Populus deltoides. The average age of the s Populus trees was 5 years. Number of trees was 40 per acre. The average height and diameter at breast height of trees was 12 meters and 42.43 cm respectively. The wheat crop was sown in October, 2020 in both fields and harvested in April, 2021. A quadrate of one meter square was used to collect the data. The quadrate was put at various distances (2-24 meter) from tree stems and the plants growing there were harvested. The grain yield (gm-2) per quadrate was determined with the help of an electric weighing balance. The soil samples were selected from both fields and various chemical and physical properties of soil were determined. The soil pH was 7.32 and 7.95 in wheat monoculture and  Populus+wheat field respectively. Total nitrogen was 0.05 and 0.08%in both fields respectively as mentioned above. Organic matter was 0.64 and 0.81 in wheat monoculture and Populus based field respectively. The effect of Populus trees on grain yield of wheat was negative form 2m to 10 meter distance from trees. While from 12m to 24 m distance, wheat grain yield was more or less equal in both fields i.e. with and without trees. Net income was Rs. 67437.69 and Rs. 104781.03 per acre without and with trees, respectively. On the basis of this research, it is concluded that wheat + Poplar is more suitable option for farmers. So farmers should adopt this system to generate more money while keeping the inputs same.