Microclimate modifications, growth and yield of intercrops under Hardwickia binata Roxb. based agroforestry system

Abstract

An experiment was conducted by planting Hardwickia binata Roxb. at 200, 400 and 800 trees ha^− 1, intercrops viz., Brassica campestris (mustard) and Glycine max (soybean) were sown from the second year onwards in winter and summer respectively at the National Research Centre for Agroforestry, Jhansi, U.P., India with the objectives of evaluating agrosilvicultural potential of the system and to study the effect of tree densities on ecophysiology of understorey crops. Tree growth was affected by both density and intercrop in the initial years of growth. Photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) available to the intercrops reduced with increasing densities. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance in intercrops decreased due to the presence of trees. No significant changes in leaf temperature were observed till the fifth year of the growing season. Yield was significantly higher in pure crop in comparison with all the densities in mustard. Soybean yield under 200 trees ha^− 1 was comparable to that of the pure crop. Trees at the density of 200 trees ha^− 1 provided a conducive microenvironment to the intercrops.

Keywords:

• Transpiration rate
• stomatal conductance
• agroforestry
• crop yield
• understorey crops
• Hardwickia binata
• tree density