Performance of Wheat under Scattered Trees of Kikar (Acacia nilotica) under Rainfed Condition in Punjab (India)

The effect of single scattered Acacia nilotica ssp. Indica (Kikar) trees on growth and yield of rainfed wheat was studied in North-western India. The biomass and grain yield of wheat were recorded at four distances from the base oftrees viz. I , 3 , 5 and 8 m on all the four aspects viz. northern , southern , eastern and western , and from open field (away from trees). Analysis of data revealed significant differences in biomass and grain yield with respect to aspect , distance from tree , and interaction of both. The least biomass and grain yields were recorded from southern aspect and from plots near to trees. When compared with open field , the association of tree caused 23.7 and 36.5 per cent reduction of biomass and grain yield , respectively. The highest reduction was recorded on the southern aspect for both grain (47.6%) and biomass yield (35.4%). The grain yield recorded at I and 3 m distance from the tree base were 49.8 and 46.8 per cent less , respectively than that of open field , whereas , at 8 m distance the reduction was comparatively less (14.3%). The biomass production also experienced lowest reduction (9.9%) at 8 m distance , however it was maximum (31.6%) at 3 m distance from base of tree.