INFLUENCE OF ROOT PRUNING AND CUTTING INTERVAL OF LEUCAENA HEDGEROWS ON PERFORMANCE OF ALLEY CROPPED RABI SORGHUM

The influence of root pruning and cutting interval of Leucaena hedgerows on alley cropped rabi sorghum was investigated. Paired (60 cm) Leucaena hedgerows spaced 6.6 m wide were subject to either root pruning, using a country plough during mid-kharif season, or no root pruning. The cutting frequency of Leucaena hedgerows ranged from one month to six months during the rabi cropping period. The effect on soil moisture, crop growth, yield and yield components of rabi sorghum was examined. Root pruning of Leucaena hedgerows increased grain and stover yields of the alley cropped rabi sorghum by 33 and 17%, respectively, over root not pruned hedgerows. Similarly, shorter cutting intervals (one and two months) increased crop yields as compared with longer cutting intervals (three and six months). The growth (height and dry matter) of the crop was similarly influenced. Soil moisture studies indicated that the competition between crop and hedgerows was considerably reduced by the root pruning. The results clearly showed that the competition between hedgerows and arable crop can be reduced considerably by root pruning and frequent cutting (at one to two months interval) of the hedgerows.