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Background: The incorporation of leaf litters in agroforestry systems can meet a significant share of nutrients demand and improve crop yield. The Citrus aurontifolia, Aegle marmelos and Cordia myxa (among fruit trees) and Colophospermum mopane, Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis, Dalbergia sissoo (among trees) are well-adapted species to the arid environment. Unfortunately, little work has been done in the past to study the influence of leaf litters of these species on yield and nutrition of crops grown in arid region. Therefore, the present experiment was planned to study the influence of leaf litters of Colophospermum mopane, Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis, Dalbergia sissoo, Citrus aurontifolia, Aegle marmelos and Cordia myxa on yield and uptake of nutrients in moth bean and Indian mustard in arid region. Methods: Field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Bikaner in moth bean-mustard rotation during 2010-11 and 2011-12 by incorporating leaf litters of seven tree species i.e. Mopane (Colophospermum mopane), Gum acacia (Acacia Senegal), Umbrella tree (Acacia tortilis), Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo), Sour lime (Citrus aurantifolia), Assyrian plum (Cordia myxa) and Bengal quince (Aegle marmelos) in randomized block design with three replications. Grain and straw yield was recorded and analysed for N, P and K content. Result: The maximum grain yield of moth bean and its residual effect on mustard was observed in the soils amended with leaf litters of Citrus aurontifolia followed by Aegle marmelos and Dalbergia sissoo. The total uptake of N, P and K was significantly higher in the treatments of Citrus aurontifolia and Aegle marmelos, which was due to the higher dry matter production of crops, faster rate of litter decomposition and higher release of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at research farm, Agricultural Research Sub-Station, Hanumangarh, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan during kharif, 2016 to study the effect of water and nitrogen levels on yield attributes, water productivity and economics of cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.].Cluster bean variety RGC-1055 with seed rate of 16 kg/ha was planted using 3 levels of irrigation (100, 200 and 300 mm) and 4 level of nitrogen (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) and analyzed in split plot design with three replication. Results showed that irrigation at 200 mm significantly increased number of pods/plant (44.7), number of seeds/pod (7.8), test weight (28.7g), net returns (Rs 31179/ha) and B:C ratio (2.1) over 100 mm irrigation level. However, water productivity (0.25 kg m-3) was highest at 100 mm irrigation level. Nitrogen level at 40 kg/ha significantly increased number of pods/plant (48.3), number of seeds/pod (8.4), test weight (32.2 g), net returns (Rs. 32273/ha), B:C ratio (2.12) and water productivity (0.27 kg m-3) over no application of N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress is one of the main environmental stress conditions that adversely affect growth and yield of crops. Sulphydryl (-SH) compounds have been reported to induce tolerance to abiotic stress conditions. A two-year (2010 and 2011) experiment was conducted at Bikaner, Rajasthan, India to test whether the exogenous applications of thiourea (500, 750 and 1000 mg L-1) and thioglycolic acid (200, 300 and 400 mg L-1) as a foliar spray would alleviate deleterious effects of water stress on clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.). The -SH-treated plants showed higher membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic capacity and antioxidant enzyme activities and lower lipid peroxidation compared with untreated plants. Compared with untreated plants, the -SH-treated plants had 11-18, 18-30, 17-57, 25-47, 14-22% higher membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, net photosynthetic rate and seed yield, respectively; whereas the malondialdehyde content was 10-19% lower. These data suggest that under water deficit stress, exogenous-SH compound application improves photosynthesis by increasing photosynthetic pigment, protects plants against oxidative damage by scavenging reactive oxygen species and minimizing lipid peroxidation by elevated antioxidant enzyme activities. These results indicated the role of -SH compounds in diminishing the negative effects of water deficit on clusterbean and suggest that -SH compounds could be used as a potential bioregulator to improve plant growth and yield under water deficit conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]