Optimization of planting geometry and weed control improves the productivity of potato under poplar-based agroforestry system

• Published in: Agroforestry systems 2023-08, Vol.97 (6), p.1055-1069
• Main Authors: Parija, Bhadra, Kaur, Navneet, Kaur, Tarundeep, Gill, R. I. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Agroforestry; Atrazine; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Crop planting; Crop yield; Forestry; Geometry; Herbicides; Intercropping; Life Sciences; Metribuzin; Optimization; Paraquat; Planting; Poplar; Potatoes; Productivity; Vegetables; Weed control; Weeds
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1007/s10457-023-00847-x

Weeds are the major constraint to realize the potential yield of potato crop ( Solanum tuberosum ) grown under a poplar-based agroforestry system.The objective of the study was to increase the productivity of the poplar-potato intercropping system through the optimization of tree-crop planting geometry with a selection of appropriate weed control measures. Two planting geometries each of poplar (8 m × 2.5 m, 7 m × 3 m paired at 2.5 m) and potato (65 cm × 18.5 cm, 75 cm × 15 cm) with six weed control treatments (atrazine 0.250 kg ha −1 , metribuzin 0.350 kg ha −1 , paraquat 0.300 kg ha −1 , clodinafop + metribuzin 0.270 kg ha −1 , weed free check and weedy check) were investigated for two years (2017–18 and 2018–19). It was observed that these applied herbicides had no phytotoxic effect on the 5 and 6-year-old poplar trees. Broad-leaved weeds dominated the sedges under the poplar-potato based agroforestry system. The potato planting geometry 75 cm × 15 cm recorded a higher weed suppressing ability till 90 days after planting (DAP). Intercropping of potatoes at 75 cm × 15 cm spacing under poplar plantation (8 m × 2.5 m) produced higher tuber weight hill −1 (343.6 and 281.6 g hill −1 ) and increased tuber yield by 21.8% (averaged over both years) in comparison to other poplar-potato planting geometry with clodinafop + metribuzin 0.270 kg ha −1 . This herbicide recorded a nearly 84.2% decrease in total weed biomass at 90 DAP with an increased tuber yield up to 50% (29.3 and 28.9 Mg ha −1 ) than the weedy check (19.6 and 19.3 Mg ha −1 ). Findings imply that an integrated effect of poplar spacing 8 m × 2.5 m with closer potato planting geometry (75 cm × 15 cm) applied with clodinafop + metribuzin 0.270 kg ha −1 proved to be the best combination for improving the productivity of potatoes under poplar based agroforestry system.