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Integration of medicinal plants is one of the viable options for crop diversification and economic upliftment under tree fodder-based agroforestry system for mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, India. Keeping in mind this scenario, the present study was carried out to evaluate the production potential of bhringraj in response to the application of integrated nutrient sources under grewia (Grewia optiva Drummond.) based agroforestry system. A Randomized Complete Block Design experiment (factorial) was employed with C1: Grewia based agroforestry system and C2: sole bhringraj cropping system) treated with different integrated nutrient sources viz., T1: 100% FYM (Farm Yard Manure), T2: 100% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer), T3: 100% Vermicompost, T4: Jeevamrut @ 5%, T5: 25% RDF + 75% FYM, T6: 50% RDF + 50% FYM, T7: 75% RDF + 25% FYM, T8: 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost, T9: 75% RDF + 25% Vermicompost and T10: Control (No Fertilizer). Marked enhancement in the growth and yield parameters with a maximum dry matter yield of bhringraj (17.23 q ha−1) was recorded in intercropping system with application of 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 50% vermicompost (treatment T8). The maximum level of soil available nitrogen (504.25 kg ha−1), phosphorus (70.79 kg ha−1) and potassium (275.86 kg ha−1) was estimated under treatment T8. However, maximum net returns (US$ 915.58) and Benefit Cost Ratio (1.45) were realised under grewia based intercropping system coupled with the application of 25% RDF + 75% FYM (T5). The present study observed that bhringraj performs better in grewia-based agroforestry system (AFS) than under sole cropping system and the application of integrated nutrients have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing yield, economic returns and soil health, however, further investigations are required before large scale adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out at the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry forest nursery, Dr. Y.S. Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, HP, India to estimate genetic parameters on seed germination and growth characters of Pinus wallichiana seedlings. Seeds were collected from different altitudinal ranges [1800-2100 (A1), 2100-2400 (A2), 2400-2700 (A3), >2700 (A4) m asl) of Himachal Pradesh in the year 2019-20. The seeds were sown under nursery using randomized block design with three replications. Data recorded for germination and growth character from 10 randomly selected seedlings of each replication and mean data were used for analysis. Analysis of variance revealed that the mean sum of squares were highly significant difference for most of the germination and growth traits. Irrespective of altitudes, the maximum environmental variance was reported in survival percentage (19.2%). The genotypic and phenotypic variance was recorded higher in germination capacity (76.3) and survival percentage (84.9), respectively. Along different altitudinal zones, the genotypic and phenotypic variance was higher at A2 altitude in germination percentage (77.3, 81.3), respectively. Heritability in a broad sense along elevation was more in most of the germination parameters at A2 and growth traits at A1, representing characters are least influenced by environment and selection of character's is useful. Whereas, the genetic advance was more in germination capacity at A2 altitude indicating the best selection of population from this altitude. So, it would be concluded that seedlings collected from lower (1800-2100m asl)and mid altitudes (2100-2400m asl) were found suitable for large scale plantations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]