Sustainable Land Use System Option for Wheat Productivity and Economic Enhancement Resources in Indo-Gangetic Plain Region Of Uttar Pradesh, India

Wheat-based agroforestry is a means of diversifying from mono-cropping.Wheat (Triticum aestivam L.) is one of the most important cereal crops and highest consumed staple food in the world.In this context, the current study was carried out to assess the potential of wheat varieties under various land use systems.Two wheat varieties (DBW-187 and HD-2967) were evaluated with three tree proximity (0.5-1.50m, 1.50-2.50mand 2.50-3.50m),under two cropping systems (sole wheat and agroforestry systems) during rabi (winter) seasons 2022-23.Agroforestry block plantations were established in 73m row to plants in the east-west direction.During the experiment, the age of the trees was varied as follows: Casuarina-14, Shisham-17 and Eucalyptus-11 year.The wheat variety DBW-187 sown in 2.50-3.50mtree proximity gave maximum average plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation, length of spike, weight of spike, test weight, grain, and straw with biological yield and harvest index under both Casuarina-based AFS as well as in open field conditions.The cost of cultivation was higher in the open field than in AFS.Gross return and net return were higher than the shisham and eucalyptus based AFS.Benefit-cost ratio was also reported highest for the Casuarina based AFS as compared to shisham and eucalyptus based AFS.Thus, growing a suitable wheat variety, DBW-187, at an appropriate distance can enhance the income of the Casuarina-based agroforestry system.