Influence of bund planted teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) trees on field crops in semi-arid tropics

Field experiment was conducted to observe the influence of bund planted teak trees on field crops during 2021-22 in Agroclimatic Zone-2 (North-Eastern Dry Zone) of Karnataka, India. Treatment consists three distances from tree 2-6 m, 6-10 m 10-14 m and subplots three crops greengram, blackgram and pigeon pea. Significantly lower yield attributing characters such as plant height, number of branches per plant and number of pods per plant of green gram, pigeon pea and black gram respectively were recorded near the tree line at 2-6 m and were increased with increase in distance from the tree line and at distance to 10-14 m and were on par with the control (without trees). However, significantly lower grain yield of green gram and pigeon pea (456 kg ha^-1 and 1166 kg ha^-1 respectively) were near tree line and were increased with increase in distance from tree line and at distance 10-14 m grain yields of green gram and pigeon pea were on par with the control (without trees). Grain yield of black gram did not differ significantly over distances from tree line but numerically lower grain yield of black gram was noticed near tree line. The pooled average reduction in yield of green gram, pigeon pea and black gram were 16, 9 and 2 per cent respectively as compared to control. The significantly higher soil organic carbon content, available N, P₂ O₅ and K₂ O (0.42%, 382, 38 and 413 kg ha^-1, respectively) were near the tree line and were decreased with increase in distance from the tree line and at distance 10-14 m parameters were on par with control. In all the negative and positive influence on associated crops and soil properties respectively were extended up to 10 m distance from the tree line and among the crops black gram was least affected followed by pigeon pea and green gram.