B. M. Sharma , J. P. Gupta , S. S. Rathore

Abstract

Field trials conducted at Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, for seven consecutive years (1988 to 1994) revealed that yields of Cenchrus ciliaris and Lasiurus sindicus grown in association with trees were lower than the yields of sole grasses. The changes in height of Acacia tortilis and Zizyphus rotundifolia were also more under the control. The height of trees decreased in association with grasses. The average soil moisture stored in the 90 cm profile under A. tortilis was lower as compared to Z. rotundifolia. Moisture storage decreased further when the grasses were grown with the trees. Organic matter increased over the initial level in all tree-grass combinations. The uptake of P by the two grasses alone or in combination with trees, was marginally different. While the uptake of Ca, Mg and K was considerably higher by L. sindicus than C. ciliaris.

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B. M. Sharma , S. S. Rathore , J. P. Gupta

Abstract

The effect of growing pearlmillet and clusterbean crops in association with Acacia tortilis and Zizyphus rotundifolia on tree growth, crop yields, soil moisture and organic matter were ascertained for four consecutive years under arid conditions. The results revealed that the grain and straw yields of pearlmillet and clusterbean grown in association with trees decreased compared to sole crops. The reductions in yields under Acacia tortilis were more than Zizyphus rotundifolia. Clusterbean suffered greater reduction as compared to pearlmillet. Growth of trees was maximum in the control (Tree alone) while in association with the crops it decreased. Height increment in A. tortilis was more in association with clusterbean than that with pearlmillet while Z. rotundifolia attained greater height when in association with pearlmillet. Profile moisture stored at the time of crop harvest was maximum in sole crop of clusterbean and higher in clusterbean.Z. rotundifolia than clusterbean.A. tortilis. The organic matter content of soil after four years increased over the initial and followed the order: Clusterbean > Pearlmillet and Z. rotundifolia > A. tortilis.

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