Balancing trees and crops: Growth analysis of lentil in Melia dubia based agroforestry in Bundelkhand

Abstract

Agroforestry systems play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture by integrating trees with crops, improving soil fertility, and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods. This study evaluates the growth performance of lentil (Lens culinaris) under different spatial arrangements of Melia dubia in an agroforestry system. The experiment was conducted at the Forestry Research Farm, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, where lentil was intercropped with Melia dubia at three different spacings: 5m × 5m, 5m × 4m, and 5m × 3m. The findings revealed that absolute growth rate (AGR) of lentil was highest in sole cropping (0.008 g day⁻¹ at 0-30 DAS), while it decreased with reduced tree spacing, reaching 0.006 g day⁻¹ at 5m × 3m spacing. Similarly, crop growth rate (CGR) at 0-30 DAS was highest in sole cropping (0.27 g m⁻² day⁻¹) and lowest in 5m × 3m spacing (0.20 g m⁻² day⁻¹), indicating a significant impact of tree competition. Relative growth rate (RGR) was also influenced by tree spacing, with the highest values observed at 5m × 3m spacing (0.083 mg g⁻¹ day⁻¹) due to light and nutrient competition. These results suggest that wider tree spacing enhances lentil growth, reducing competition for resources. The study provides insights for optimizing agroforestry systems by balancing tree density and crop productivity for sustainable agricultural practices in semi-arid regions like Bundelkhand.