Comparative Performance of Different Tree-Crop Combinations Under Agrihortisilviculture System.

The effect of hedgerows of mulberry (Morus alba “M-5”) and peach (Prunus persica) was evaluated on the performance of lentil (HPL-5) under rainfed conditions, after six years of establishment of tree species. The lentil crop was grown in alleys comprising different combination of mulberry and peach thereby constituting six treecrop combinations. The maximum plant height (32.95 cm), number -2 -1 of plant (58.72 m⁻²) and grain yield (1.80 t ha⁻¹) of lentil was recorded in treatment T₆ (under controlled condition). All the growth and yield 6 parameters except crop maturity of lentil were found to increase with the increase in distance from the tree row. Lentil showed comparatively higher value for all the growth and yield parameters on south direction of mulberry and peach tree row as compared to the north. Height and diameter of mulberry and peach were recorded maximum in T₅ (mulberry + lentil) and T₄ (peach + lentil), 5 4 -1 respectively. Highest fruit yield (1.70 t ha⁻¹) and pruned wood -1 biomass yield (0.94 t ha⁻¹) were recorded in T₄ (peach + lentil). 4 -1 Treatment T₅ produced highest branch wood (2.54 t ha⁻¹) and leaf 5 -1 fodder yield (1.20 t ha⁻¹) of mulberry. Based on biomass productivity and output diversification, different tree-crop combination are found suitable in the following order of preference: peach + mulberry + lentil -T₃ < one peach tree surrounded by two mulberry tree + lentil - 3 T₁ < one mulberry tree surrounded by two peach tree+ lentil-T 2 > 1 peach + lentil - T₄ < mulberry + lentil -T₅ < only lentil -T₆ and thus can 4 5 6 be replicated under similar agroecological conditions.