The chronic shortage of water is the major problem in the Shiwaliks, locally known as Kandi area. Agro-climatically, Shiwaliks are considered highly suitable for plantation and high value crops on account of favourable wheather and adaphic factors. The aloe vera is known for its medicinal properties from the ancient time in India. A field experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soils during 2005–06 to study the effect of spacing and soil stirring on fresh leaf yield and water expense components of aloe vera under rainfed conditions. Six spacing levels with and without soil stirring were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Spacing and soil stirring have a significant effect on the fresh leaf yield and number of fresh leaves per plant counted after one year of plantation. The number of fresh leaves per plant were found maximum in the treatments where spacing of 60X45 cm and minimum under the treatments where spacing of 45X45 cm was kept. The average yield on fresh weight basis was found maximum in the plots where spacing of 60x45 cm followed by 60x60 cm and 45x45 cm with and without soil stirring was kept. The water expense efficiency was also higher (268 kg ha−1 cm−1) under the treatments where the soil stirring and closer spacing of 60x45 cm was done.
Shivaliks, Aloe vera, Spacing, Soil stirring, Fresh leaf yield, Water expense efficiency
