Effect of pruning and intercrops on Jatropha and Sapota under Sapota-Jatropha based Horti-Silvi system

Abstract

The investigation on “Effect of pruning and intercrops on Jatropha and Sapota under Sapota-Jatropha based Horti-Silvi system” was carried out at Agronomy Farm (Block-E), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, during Kharif 2015 and 2016. The experiment was comprised of nine treatments with four replications in Randomized Block Design. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) and Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia L.) were grown as intercrops in eleven years old plantation of Sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosberg] planted at 10 x 10 m spacing, with nine year old plantation of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) which was planted at 2.5 x 2.5 m spacing. In Jatropha pruning operation was done at 3ft (100% pruning) and 5ft (50% pruning) height from the ground level. The observations on growth and yield of tree crop and its attributes were recorded during the course of investigation under study. In pooled analysis of effect of pruning and intercrops, crown spread East-West (2.16 m and 2.10 m), crown spread North-South (2.21 m and 2.14 m), number of branches per plant (20.75 and 20.38), fruit yield per plant (0.346 kg and 0.340 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (355.63 kg and 348.13 kg) of Jatropha were noted significantly maximum in 50% pruned jatropha with intercrops as compared to 100% pruned and unpruned jatropha with and without intercrop under Sapota-Jatropha based Horti-Silvi system. However, plant height (2.64 m and 2.62 m) was noted significantly maximum in unpruned jatropha with intercrops while basal diameter was found non-significant. In case of sapota, plant height, basal diameter, crown spread East–West & North-South and number of branches per plant were found non-significant. While, significantly maximum fruit yield per plant (45.25 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (4083.75 kg/ha) were recorded in T6: unpruned jatropha with babchi as compared to 100%, 50% pruned and unpruned jatropha without intercrop under Sapota-Jatropha based Horti-Silvi system.