Performance of Prosopis cineraria and associated crops under varying spacing regimes in the arid zone of India

Prosopis cineraria (L.) (khejri) is the most important agroforestry tree species in the arid zone of India. A field experiment was conducted for three years to evaluate the tree-crop interactions as affected by varying tree density (1666, 833 and 417 stems ha(-1)) and different intercrops, i.e. Vigna mungo (L.) (mungbean), Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub (clusterbean), Vigna acontifolia (Jacq.) Marechal (mothbean) and Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (pearlmillet). During the tree establishment phase, P. cineraria did not compete with the associated agricultural crops nor was its growth affected by the intercrops. At four years of age, 417 stems ha(-1) (4 x 6 m(2) spacing) was found to be the optimum tree density. Higher stem density adversely affected tree growth. Pulses (mung bean, clusterbean and mothbean) were better suited than pearlmillet as intercrops.