Yield and nutrient dynamics under fruit-based diversified cropping models for arid region of Rajasthan

The plant height, plant girth and yield of aonla varied considerably in different cropping model systems. Highest yield of aonla was recorded in aonla-khejri (46.2 kg/plant) followed by aonla-ber (44.7 kg/plant), while the lowest aonla yield was recorded in aonla-drumstick (40.6 kg/plant). Maximum organic carbon (0.25%), electrical conductivity (2.00 dS/m) and pH (8.28) was recorded under aonla-khejri-cluster bean-ajowain cropping model followed by aonla-ber-cluster bean-fennel. Similarly, the maximum available nitrogen (210.3 kg N/ha), potassium (401.26 kg K/ha), micro-nutrients (Zn 5.11; Cu 0.59; Fe 12.21; Mn 12.91 ppm) and microbial population (bacteria 271 CFU x10⁶; fungal 221 CFU x10³; actinomycetes 116 CFU x10³) were under aonla-khejri-cluster bean-ajowain cropping system. It was concluded that for arid conditions of Rajasthan, aonla-khejri and aonlaber combinations were superior compared to other cropping systems.