Gn. Gupta et al., PERFORMANCE OF PROSOPIS-CINERARIA AND ASSOCIATED CROPS UNDER VARYING SPACING REGIMES IN THE ARID ZONE OF INDIA, Agroforestry systems, 40(2), 1998, pp. 149-157
Prosopis cineraria (L.) (khejri) is the most important agroforestry tr
ee species in the arid zone of India. A field experiment was conducted
for three years to evaluate the tree-crop interactions as affected by
varying tree density (1666, 833 and 417 stems ha(-1)) and different i
ntercrops, i.e. Vigna mungo (L.) (mungbean), Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (
L.) Taub (clusterbean), Vigna acontifolia (Jacq.) Marechal (mothbean)
and Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (pearlmillet). During the tree esta
blishment phase, P. cineraria did not compete with the associated agri
cultural crops nor was its growth affected by the intercrops. At four
years of age, 417 stems ha(-1) (4 x 6 m(2) spacing) was found to be th
e optimum tree density. Higher stem density adversely affected tree gr
owth. Pulses (mung bean, clusterbean and mothbean) were better suited
than pearlmillet as intercrops.