Growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different tree spacings of Dalbergia sissoo based agrisilviculture

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1994-95 and 1 995-96 to find out the response of five wheat (Triticum aestivum L,) variet ies to two spacings of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. in an agrisilviculture system . Both the tree canopies of 5 x 5 m spacing and 10 x 10 m spacings of D. si ssoo had adverse effect on plant dry matter production, leaf area index, ea rheads/m and grains/earhead of intercropped wheat, resulting in 71 per cent decrease in wheat yield under 5 x 5 m spacing and 24 per cent under 10 x 1 0 m spacing as compared to control (without trees) field. Among the wheat v arieties, WH 533 and WH 542 showed greater tolerance to shade and their yie ld did not differ significantly from control when intercropped with 10 x 10 m spacing of D. sissoo.