Agri–Silvi–Horti Systems for Semiarid Regions of North-West India

Abstract

Reduction in yield of arable crops under agroforestry in the tropics and subtropics is well known, but information on how different agroforestry systems influence the yield of crops is scanty. All types of agroforestry models may not be useful for all sites, but the old and traditional practices can be manipulated for meeting site-specific needs. Therefore, various agroforestry models (agri–silvi–horti systems) were developed to study their performance under semiarid conditions in north-west India. The experiment was conducted in ten-year-old silvi–horti systems comprising of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo L.) + aonla (Embilica officinalis Gaertn.), shisham (D. sissoo) + guava (Psidium guajava L.), khejri (Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce) + aonla (E. officinalis) and khejri (P. cineraria) + guava (P. guajava) planted at a spacing of 6 m × 6 m. Three crop sequences, viz. cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub)—barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) R. Br.)—oat (Avena sativa L.), were intecropped for 2 years. The crops were also grown in open field. The fodder yield of the kharif crops, namely pearl millet, cowpea and cluster bean, was significantly suppressed by different silvi–horti systems during the period of study, and maximum yield was observed in sole cropping. Among different silvi–horti systems, maximum fodder yield of cowpea (10.27 t/ha) and clusterbean (5.67 t/ha) was recorded under khejri + guava, whereas pearl millet fodder yield (18.93 t/ha) was maximum in khejri + aonla silvi–horti system. Minimum fodder yield (3.47 t/ha) was recorded in clusterbean under shisham + guava, whereas maximum fodder yield (29.3 t/ha) was recorded in pearl millet under sole cropping. In rabi season, maximum grain yield of wheat (4.07 t/ha) and barley (4.38 t/ha) was recorded under sole cropping while minimum yield of wheat (2.34 t/ha) and barley (2.79 t/ha) was recorded under shisham + aonla. Fodder yield of oat was also influenced significantly by different silvi–horti systems. Maximum oat fodder yield of 62.00 t/ha was harvested from open field followed by 56.20 t/ha under khejri + guava. Maximum fruit yield (13.40 t/ha) was observed in aonla + wheat + khejri agri–silvi–horti system. Appreciable build up in organic carbon content (OC) and decrease in soil pH under agri–silvi–horti systems as compared to sole cropping. The available NPK content also increased under agri–silvi–horti systems and decreased with increasing soil depth. The agri–silvi–horti system of khejri + guava + clusterbean–barley fetched higher net returns (Rs. 76,650/ha), while the net returns from sole cropping of clusterbean–barley was only Rs. 15,953/ha.