Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties grown under Ceiba pentandra L. gaertn based agrisilviculture system

Field experiment was conducted to investigate the growth and biomass production of wheat varieties under Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn. Agri-silviculture system. The tree components comprise of Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn. The Agrisilviculture system was grown on vertisol soil in July 19th 1995. The study was done during Rabi season 1999-2000 with 40 treatments (Including for control treatment. These comprises of three spacing (4x4 m; 4x6 m and 4x8m), four varieties of wheat (Sujata (V1); Lok-1 (V2); Kanchan (V3) and GW-174 (V4) and three distances from tree base {0.5 to 1.0 m (d1), 1.5 to 2.0 m (d2) and 2.5 to 3.0 m (d3)}. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with five replications. The wheat crop parameters like plant population, number of tillers, root shoot biomass, plant height, number of effective tillers and grain weight were found maximum in tree planted at wider spacing (4x8m). Highest grain yield (30.2 q/ha) was obtained in 4x8 m tree spacing, while in other two tree spacing’s the grain yield was 29.9 q/ha (4x6) and 26.3 q/ha (4x4). Grain yield and growth parameters also varied with distance from the base. It was lowest near the tree base. The growth and development of crop was better as the distance from tree base increase. It is concluded that wheat can be grown successfully under Ceiba pentandra based agrisilviculture system. Among three wheat variety Kanchan is recommended for growing under agrisilviculture system. By combining suitable complementary varieties along with tree farming, the production level of both grain and timber can be sustained and economical beneficial for the farmers of Chhattisgarh.