Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de wit: promising forage and tree-crop resource for the tropics - a frontline agroforestry system.

摘要

A field study was conducted during November 2004 to March 2005 at the research farm of the Department of Agroforestry, Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, to determine the effect of Leucaena leucocephala in alley cropping model with Cicer arietinum (gram), Pisum sativum (pea) and Lens culinaris (lentil). The various treatment combinations were tree + gram (T1); tree + pea (T2); tree + lentil (T3); 50% pruned tree + gram (T4); 50% pruned tree + pea (T5); 50% pruned tree + lentil (T6); grams (T7); pea (T8) and lentil (T9) with gross cultivated area of 378 m2. Results showed that plant population per meter row and number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant were higher under sole crop followed by 50% pruned tree + crop and lowest under tree + crop treatment. The plant population per meter row was affected due to management practices and minimum under unpruned tree with crop compared to tree pruned + crop and maximum plant population per meter row was obtained by sole crop followed by 50% pruned tree + crop and minimum was recorded with tree + crop. Similar trend was observed for plant growth, number of branches per plant and number of pods per plant. The maximum dry weight at different successive stage of growth was recorded under sole crop followed by 50% pruned tree + crop and minimum was recorded under tree + crop. The yield parameters of intercrops concurrently revealed minimum yield under tree + crop and the maximum under sole crop followed by 50% pruned tree + crop treatment. Growth parameters of L. leucocephala viz. tree height and collar diameter exhibited a well defined trend of increment, maximum in association with crop + tree whereas minimum with 50% pruned tree + crop.