Land Equivalent Ratio for Assessing Yield Advantages from Agroforestry Experiments

Abstract

An experiment was initiated during 1999-2000 to assess the productivity of fodder tree-based cropping system consisting of 4 tree species, viz. siris [Albizia leebook (L), Benth], neam (Azadiracta Indica A. Juss), sisoo or shishum (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex DC), babul ( /acacia nilotica (L) Delile ssp indica , Benth). Brenan, and 2 crops, viz. barley (Hordeum valgare L, S.l.) and gram (Cicer arfetinum L). The productivity of this agroforestry system was evaluated for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, by calculating land-equivalent ratios (LERs). The LERs for 8 crop combinations from 2 crops and 4 tree species were worked out for each year and their significance was tested using the method of ratios to study the potential of the system. The LERs were not significantly different for the 2 years combined. However, the interaction between LERs and years was significant indicating that LERs were not consistent over years. The monetary returns from the various combinations of the system taking all the 14 treatments were also worked out for both the years. The analysis of monetary data pooled over years showed significant difference between the treatment combinations with maximum average returns from babul + gram.