Indian Journal of Agronomy

A study on farmer's field was undertaken during rabi season 2007–08 and 2008–09 to verify the apprehension of farmers on the adverse impacts of field boundary planted poplar (Populus deltoids Bartram) on wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori & Paol]. Soil water extraction from the root zone depth of wheat grown on either side of the poplar planted on field boundary was recorded up to 4 m distance. In most of the observations, the effect was insignificant. However, the observations were significantly affected by distance from the poplar plantation. The average soil water extraction rate of the two years was recorded as 5.18 mm/day at 1.0 m, 4.77 mm/day at 2.0 m, 3.99 mm/day at 3.0 m and 3.59 mm/day at 4.0 m distance. The ETo of the two years average was 3.6 mm/day. The average crop coefficient of the two years irrespective of side was recorded as 1.44 at 1.0 m, 1.33 at 2.0 m, 1.12 at 3.0 m and 1.09 at 4.0 m distance. The average grain yields of the two years irrespective of the side of observation was recorded as 1.3 t/ha at 1.0 m, 2.6 t/ha at 2.0 m, 3.3 t/ha at 3.0 m and 3.70 t/ha at 4 m distance. The average 1,000-grain weight of the two years irrespective of the side of observation was recorded as 17.7 g at 1.0 m, 20.6 g at 2.0 m, 21.9 g at 3.0 m and 22.5 g at 4.0 m distance. The grain yield loss of 34.8% and test weight loss of 11.1% and water extraction increase of 27.8% and crop coefficient increase of 27% in a swath 3 m on either side confirms the apprehension of farmers about the negative impact of poplar planted on field boundary.