Influence of naturally occurring trees on field bunds and their impact on yield parameters of paddy crop.

摘要

The Chhattisgarh region has traditionally been known as the 'rice bowl' of the Central India, covering an area of approximately 72 940 sq. km. This belt has a predominantly agriculture based economy and nearly 81% of the working population is engaged in agriculture, mainly of the subsistence type. Growing trees in association with agricultural crops has been found to be viable proposition in this area. Scattered or dispersed trees in cropland is a widespread traditional practice in the semi-arid tropics (SAT). Paddy was planted in Acacia nilotica based traditional agroforestry system during kharif season in 1998. Phytosociological parameters of A. nilotica were studied. Different crop parameters like shoot number, shoot biomass and grain yield were also studied. Results revealed that crop growing in vicinity to trees had lesser shoot number, shoot biomass and grain yield than the crops at distant. These crop parameters declined with proximity to trees. Correlation studies showed that crop characters studied had significant and positive correlation with each other. All the distances evaluated, differed drastically in terms of crop parameters from each other.