The Growth and Yield of Wheat and Paddy as Influenced by Dalberg1a sissoo Roxb. Boundary Plantation

Agroforestry studies using Dalbergia sissoo were conducted to assess the crop productivity under semi-arid conditions. Growth performance of D. sissoo trees intercropped with wheat and paddy showed mean height and gbh as 10.36 m and 53.45 cm, total timber 1.2554 m³ small timber 7.0899 m³ and fuel wood 77.45 q. The gross income from trees calculated as Rs. 24,056.00 for 33 trees pcr 55 m tree line. Crop yields and other crop parameters of wheat especially under tree canopy upto 4 m from tree line declined significantly. In case of paddy such influence was found upto 8m from tree row. The total affected area in the entire plot worked out to 220 m² in wheat crop and 440 m² in paddy crop showing a nct loss of 21.23 kg (Rs. 53.00) and 101.20 kg (Rs. 559.00), respectively. The losses to agriculture crops are wen compensated by the gross income Rs.2005/-per year obtained through sale of trees. The conclusions drawn from the studies indicate that D. sissoo trees though effect negatively the agriculture production in the vicinity of tree canopy but it proved viable proposition for practicing as a agroforestry tree species under irrigated conditions. The spacing between trees, pruning and manipulation of crown structure are crucial for minimising the tree losses and increasing the productivity per unit area.