Effect of alley cropping on light transmission ratio, growth and yield of winter sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) under semi-arid environment

An experiment was conducted during 1997–98 and 1998–99 to study light relations and its effect on performance of winter sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] as influenced by different hedge row species. Among the hedge row species, Gliricidia sepium allowed the maximum light with highest light transmission ratio (at 30 DAS 78.60%; at 60 DAS 91.85% and at 90 DAS 85%). G. sepium gave maximum green biomass yield (4.299 tonnes/ha) in addition to maximum grain yield (1.101 tonnes/ha), possibly mainly owing to erect growth behaviour of G. sepium. The results indicated that in semi-arid environment G. sepium + winter sorghum alley cropping system was promising owing to its better light relations in the system.