PERFORMANCE OF SORGHUM AND BARLEY INTERCROPPED WITH KADAM BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM IN SEMI-ARID ECOSYSTEM OF HARYANA.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the performance of sorghum and barley intercropped with 3-year-old kadam based agroforestry system at a spacing of 7m x 3m. The growth observations of kadam tree like dbh (12.46 cm) and basal diameter (18.24 cm) were recorded during the study. The growth, physiological parameters, yield attributes and yield of sorghum and barley were also recorded. The plant height of sorghum and barley showed significant variation under kadam based agroforestry system (AFS) and open (sole crop). Significant variation was observed in the physiological parameters (chlorophyll, photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance) of sorghum and barley crops with kadam plantation as well as sole crop (devoid of trees). The plant height, leaf area, fresh leaf and stem weight, and green fodder yield in sorghum showed highly significant variation in kadam as well as sole sorghum. The fodder yield of sorghum varied from 32.24 (with kadam) to 40.90 (control) t/ha. The per cent yield reduction in kadam plantation was 21.16 %, respectively over control. Significant variations were also observed in spike length, number of grains per spike, grain and straw yield of barley under kadam based AFS as well as sole barley (devoid of trees). The grain yield of barley varied from 2.21 (kadam) to 3.91 (control) t/ha. The per cent yield reduction in kadam plantation was 43.43 %, respectively over control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]