Growth and productivity of soybean (Glycine max) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) under different tree species

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1990–2005 to know the productivity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) – safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) crop sequence in different multipurpose trees in black clayey soils under rainfed conditions at Dharwad. The experiment consisted of 10 different tree species, viz neem (Azadirachta indica L. Juss), rose wood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb), Khejri (Prosopis cineraria L.), Babool (Acacia nilotica L.), Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia J R & G), Silk Cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra L.), Nilgiri (Eucalyptus tereticornis L.), Bahera (Terminalia bellerica Gaertn, Roxb), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) and Mango (Mangifera indica L.) were planted at 10 m ×10 m. Field crops were grown in alley of trees in sequence. Yield reduction of field crop decreased with increase in growth of trees species. It was heigher in safflower compared to soybean. Soybean yields were significantly higher with P. cineraria compared with the other tree species. Grain yield reduction was higher in Ceiba pentandra, Dalbergia latifolia, T. bellerica, T. indica. Similar trends were observed in rabi yield of safflower. The growth of tree species was higher in T. bellerica, C. pentandra, E. tereticornis and C. equisetifolia compared with the other tree species. Economic analysis indicated that benefit : cost ratio, net returns and internal rate of returns were higher in field crop + P. cineraria compared to other tree species.