Growth and Productivity of Cymopsis Tetragonoloba under Different Trees Species Irrigated at Varying Levels in Indian Desert Region

Variations in yield of Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. due to companion 3-year old Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia nilotica plants irrigated at 36.2 mm (T₁), 26.5 mm (T₂), 20.2 mm (T₃) and 18.1 mm (T₄) levels and a rainfed in which plants were irrigated once at 325 mm and left unirrigated (T₅) were studied to monitor competitive effects of these species with agriculture crops at different soil water stress levels. Height and collar diameter of 3-year old plants ranged from 730 to 345 cm and 10.5 to 4.8 cm for E. camaldulensis, 520 to 230 cm and 10.9 to 6.1 cm for Dalbergia sissoo and 370 to 275 cm and 7.4 to 6.1 cm for Acacia nilotica. The highest and lowest growth variables were in T₁ and T₅ irrigation levels, respectively for all three species. Treatments were plant intact (IP), lopped plants with ischolar_main only in which aboveground plant parts were removed from soil surface (LP) and a 'no plant' control (WP). Germination of C. tetragonolobawas more favorable with intact plants of E. camaldulensis, but it was highest at T₅ level of irrigation. Effect of A. nilotica was more adverse on both germination and crop yield. The association of D. sissoo was relatively positive. Though the yield of pod husk and grain decreased with decrease in irrigation level, but the effect was not significant suggesting the water stress tolerance nature of C. tetragonoloba.