TREE EFFECT ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF PINEAPPLE (Kew) IN A SILVI- HORTI SYSTEM OF AGROFORESTRY IN N.E.H. REGION OF INDIA

摘要

To study the tree effect on yield and fruit quality of understorey pineapple, a silvi-horti system comprising Alder (Alnus nepalensis, 416 trees/ha); and Acacia auriculiformis (416 and 833 trees/ha) with pineapple (Kew) was initiated in 1988 at ICAR Research Farm, Barapani (26° N and 92° E; 980 m above msl). Alnus nepalensis was fast in growth, produced wide and denser crown arid attained higher volume production as compared to the two density; levels of Acacia, however; the latter under, high density produced a substantial amount of leaf litter (6.03 t/ha). Alder recorded lowest flowering % fruit weight and fruit yield of pineapple as against that of pure pineapple and Acacia with low tree derisity. The fruit quality of pineapple was also poor under Alder. High concentrations'of organtc-C and some nutrients (Ca, Mg and K) in soil under the two density levels of Acacia + pineapple and pure pineapple were (recorded. Although, pineapple can tolerate high amount of shade, the shade cast by Alder inthis study was excessive,, hence, it adversely affected fruit yield and quality. Thus, pineapple can be better associated with' trees having light crown, sucn as Acacia auriculiformis etc. on hill slope.