Abstract
An agroforestry system comprising of Poplar (Populus deltoides clone AY-48) and wheat, fodder maize
crops was designed, to compare the effect of agroforestry system and conventional agricultural system on
soil. Poplar (Populus deltoides clone AY-48) was planted at a density of 455trees/ha, 305trees/ha, and
230trees/ha at the spacing of 3.66 x 6.10m (D1), 3.66 x 9.10m (D2) and 3.66 x 12.10m (D3) respectively.
Agricultural crops namely, wheat (Triticum aestivum) variety Inqalab-91 and fodder maize (Zea mays)
variety Neelum were sown alternately during “Rabi” and “Kharif” seasons each year throughout the entire
study periods in poplar plots. To compare the differences among sole crop and intercropping the wheat
and fodder-maize were also sown in separate plots (Dw/f). Significantly highest 0.65% total mean value of
organic matter was observed in the treatment D2 while lowest quantity of organic matter (0.46%) was
observed in sole wheat, fodder maize treatment (Dw). Nitrogen fertility increased (6.6%) in intercropping
treatments during the year 2000-2001 compared to 1999-2000 while it decreased 0.45% slightly in sole
wheat, fodder maize treatments (Dw). Mean post wheat harvest phosphorus content of soil in sole wheat,
fodder maize treatment (Dw) was 10.97ppm while it ranged from 13.20ppm to 13.47ppm in intercropping
treatments. Potassium fertility increased from 1.8ppm to 2.7ppm in intercropping treatments during the
year 2000-2001 compared to 1999-2000 while it decreased in sole wheat, fodder maize treatment to
0.9ppm.
