Comparative studies of the associated soil moisture regimes and their productivity in an agroforestry system

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:140050

Bhaskar, V; Rao, N S; Reddy, B G; Vedavyasa, K; Ravishankar, H M; Venkatesh, R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Agricultural Science, Bangalore (India). Dept. of Farm Forestry

Results are presented on the effects of Eucalyptus hybrid, Casuarina equisetifolia, Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia nilotica on certain field crops (finger millet, redgram, horsegram and castor) under dryland conditions. Eucalyptus hybrid showed the maximum border effect on field crops, followed by D. sissoo. C. equisetifolia and A. nilotica. The adverse effect of Eucalyptus was chiefly due to depletion of moisture in the upper surface layers of the soil, whereas shade and allelopathic effects were negligible. The reduction in the crop yield due to competition by trees has been compared with wood yield from trees. Over a period of three years it was found that with the exception of Acacia, there was distinct economic gain under an agroforestry system as the loss in agricultural crops due to the effect of trees was compensated for by wood yield. However, this gain varied considerably depending upon the tree species, crop combination and the prevailing market price of the wood and crop. Eucalyptus hybrid produced the highest wood yield at the expense of field crops than any other tree species. Hence it is recommended that, where food production is the main objective, preference should be given to species like Castuarina, D. Sissoo and Acacia, which have minimum border effect on agricultural crops for dryland agroforestry systems.

• OSTI ID: 140050
• Report Number(s): CONF-9102202--; ISBN 0-471-93561-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CROPS
FORESTRY
FORESTS
MOISTURE
PRODUCTIVITY
SOILS
TREES