RICE PRODUCTIVITY AND ROADSIDE TREES ALONG HIGHWAYS IN IMPHAL WEST DISTRICT OF MANIPUR: A SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW

Rice productivity along the five highways of Imphal West District of Manipur, India revealed a marked difference in areas nearer and farther from the roadside. Between the years 2009 and 2010, annual paddy production were found to b e differed by an average of 800 to 1050 kg per hectare of the cultivation areas along these highways. Being lined with more or less regular rows of roadside trees of varying species, the difference in rice productivity was supposed to be due to the shade effects of these trees. However, further probe has shown that the most plausible reason for the difference is due to photoperiodism impacted upon by the flashlights of the regularly plying vehicles along these highways.