PRODUCTIVE AND PROTECTIVE ROLE OF LEUCAENA BASED AGROFORESTRY IN COMPARISON WITH RAINFED FIELD CROPS ON GRAVELLY SOIL

Abstract

PRESENTS RESULTS OF A STUDY CONDUCTED AT CHANDIGARH DURING 1984-89 ON GRAVELLY SOIL UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS TO EVALUATE TWO AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS BASED ON WHITE POPINAC OF HORSE TAMARIND ( LEUCAENA LATISILIQUA) . THE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM COMPRISING OF K8 WHITE POPINAC FOR FUELWOOD AT 2 X 2m IN UPPER CANOPY AND EI SALVADOR WHITE POPINAC AT 0.5 X 0.5 m FOR FODDER IN LOWER CANOPY (LN) AND K8 AS ABOVE IN UPPER CANOPY AND NB21 HYBRID NAPIER GRASS ( PENNISETUM PURPUREUM) FOR FODDER IN LOWER CANOPY AT 0.5 X 0.5 m (LN) WERE COMPARED WITH A TRADITIONAL RAINFED CROP SEQUENCE OF SESAME ( SESAMUM INDICUM L) RAPESEED ( BRASSICA NAPUS L) ALONG WITH A CONTROL OF CULTIVATED FALLOW ( CF) IN PLOTS OF 20 X 8 m SIZE ON A 2% LAND SLOPE LN AND OF SESAME AND RAPESEED , RESPECTIVELY. THE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS WERE ECONOMICALLY MORE VIABLE AND PROVIDED BETTER CONSERVATION COMPARED WITH THE TRADITIONAL CROPS.