Evaluation of mulberry, peach and maize under agrihortisilvi culture system in north-western himalayas

A field experiment was conducted in the mid hills of Himacha Himalayas to study the effect of six tree crop combinations on growth, biomass productivity and economic return of maize, peach and mulberry under agrihortisilviculture system. Maximum plant height (195.00cm), number of plants (6.72m⁻²) and grain yield (42.17q ha⁻¹) of maize was recorded in treatment T₆ under control (sole cropping). All the growth and yield parameters except crop maturity of maize were found to increase with the increase in distance from the tree row. Maize crop grown toward south direction of the tree row showed higher values for all the growth and yield parameters as compared to the north. Height as well as diameter of mulberry and peach was recorded maximum in T₅ (mulberry + maize) and T₄ (peach + maize) respectively. Highest peach fruit yield (17.00q ha⁻¹) and pruned wood biomass (9.35 q ha⁻¹) were recorded in T₄ (peach + maize). Treatment T₅ (mulberry + maize) produced highest branch wood (25.41 q ha⁻¹) and leaf fodder yield (12.01 q ha⁻¹) of mulberry. Highest biomass productivity (166qha⁻¹yr⁻¹) was recorded in T₃ and lowest (112 q ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) in T₆. Highest values of total cost (Rs. 12567 ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) was recorded in T₁, T₂ and T₃ whereas, gross return was observed maximum (Rs. 34670 ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) in T₅ Maximum net return was obtained (Rs. 22103 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in T₃ and minimum (Rs. 9950 ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) in T₆.