Comparative performance of some agri-silvi-horti systems with drip irrigation under arid regions

Abstract

The combinations of different tree species namely guava (Psidium guajava) + shisham (Dalberiga sissoo), guava (Psidium guajava) + khejri (Prosopis cineraria), aonla (Embilica officinalis) + shisham and aonla + khejri were planted during Oct. 2000 at a spacing of 6 m × 6 m. After establishment of trees from July 2001 the crop sequences, viz., ridgegourd (Luffa acutangula)- tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), moongbean (Vigna radiata) - fallow and clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)- fallow were raised in the interspaces of the trees. Ridgegourd and tomato were raised with drip irrigation (100, 70 and 40% ETc), while moongbean and clusterbean were raised as rainfed crops. In general, maximum plant growth (height and diameter) was recorded under 100% level of irrigation for all the tree species. The tree species showed significant variation in growth. Irrigation treatments varied significantly only for diameter. The yield of intercrops was significantly affected by different irrigation levels and was highest at 100% irrigation level but it was not affected by different tree species. The highest yield of 385, 925, 5300 kg/ ha of moongbean, clusterbean and ridgegourd were recorded under guava + khejri at 100% ETc irrigation level. During rabi season (winter; November-March) maximum yield of tomato (46,220 kg/ha) was observed under 100% ETc. Water use efficiency for trees ranged from 1.19 to 11.0 g/l. Maximum WUE was observed in ridgegourd at all the irrigation levels under different systems.