Physiological Investigations on Legumes in teak based agroforestry system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2007 and 2008 at Main Agricultural newlineResearch Station (MARS), UAS, Dharwad to study the performance of legumes and perennial newlinevegetables in a teak based agroforestry systems, the experiment was laid out in factorial newlinerandomized block design with four replications. The investigations involved two experiments, newlinethe first one with teak as perennial component and four pulses as arable crops. The second newlineone consisted of teak with two pulses along with two short rotation vegetables. newlineThe plant height, leaf, stem, pod and total dry matter in legumes were highest in sole newlinecrop treatment as compared to legume with teak and teak+perennial vegetable based newlineagroforestry system and were superior in 2-4m distance from teak row. The growth newlineparameters of legumes in both teak+legumes and teak with perennial vegetables, viz., LAI, newlineLAD, AGR, CGR, NAR and SLW differed significantly due to influence of teak and perennial newlinevegetables. newlineGrain yield of legume was higher in teak+frenchbean (1042 kg ha-1) followed by newlineteak+soybean (875 kg ha-1). In teak perennial vegetable based agroforestry systems newlineteak+curryleaf+soybean (766 kg ha-1) followed by teak+curryleaf+greengram (307 kg ha-1) newlinehad higher grain yield as compared to other agroforestry systems. newlineThe values of biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a , b , total chlorophyll and newlineSPAD) were found to be higher in 2m distance from the tree base compared to 4m distance in newlineteak+legumes and teak perennial vegetables in legume based agroforestry systems. Nitrate newlinereductase activity was found to be higher at 4m distance from tree base compared to 2m newlinedistance in teak+legumes and teak+perennial vegetables based agroforestry systems. newlineThe biophysical parameters (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and relative water newlinecontent) were decreased from 20 to 40 DAS, whereas, the stomatal conductance increased newlinefrom 20 to 40 DAS in both teak+legumes and teak + perennial vegetables with legume based newlineagroforestry systems. newline