Effect on system productivity through inter crop diversification in agri-horti system in arid ecosystem of western Rajasthan

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on the "study of system productivity through intercrop diversification in agri-horti system in arid ecosystem of western Rajasthan" at research farm of CAZRI, Regional Research Station" Bikaner on the existing plantation of 10 years old plantations of Citrus aurontifolia,bael (Aegle marmelos) and gonda (Cordia myxa) planted with drip irrigation system under agri-horti system. The experiment was conducted under factorial Randomized Block design with three replications. The experimental results revealed that inter-cropping of legumes (rainfed) has no competition in agri-horti system, showing positive effect on growth and yield of fruit trees. Growth parameters of all the trees were found to be non significant in intercropping of Lasiurus sindicus and Aloe vera over no inter cropping. Inter cropping of mothbean with bael gave highest plant height of bael which was 15.9,13.05,4.90 and 10.70 per cent higher over inter cropping of cluster bean, aloe vera, L. sindicus and sole, respectively. Yield of intercrops were highest with citrus and lowest with bael during both the years. Highest water use efficiency (0.98 kg/mm) was in inter cropping of mothbean with citrus whereas in perennial crops, L. sindicus showed highest WUE of 19.4 kg/mm in intercropping with citrus. The CEY was highest in all the crops in inter cropping with citrus over rest of the trees under agri-horti system.