Economic evaluation of pruning intensities and herbicidal treatments on weed management and wheat productivity under Dalbergia sissoo based agroforestry system

Abstract

Agroforestry improves farm productivity, yet wheat yield often declines due to shading and heavy weed infestation. This study evaluated the agronomic and economic effects of four pruning intensities (0, 25, 50, 75%) and four weed-management practices (pendimethalin, hand weeding, metribuzin, and weedy check) under a Dalbergia sissoo-based agroforestry system during Rabi 2019-20 using a strip-plot design. Pruning significantly enhanced test weight, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index, with open conditions recording the highest yield (3302.58 kg ha?¹). Hand weeding (2798.60 kg ha?¹) and pendimethalin (2604 kg ha?¹) outperformed the weedy check. Economic analysis showed maximum gross (? 1,63,039 ha?¹) and net returns (? 1,22,271 ha?¹) under 25% pruning with hand weeding, while the highest B:C ratio (3.16) occurred with 25% pruning plus pendimethalin. The study concludes that moderate pruning (25-50%) combined with efficient herbicide use offers the most productive and economically viable strategy for wheat cultivation under D. sissoo agroforestry.