AKSHAY M. SAJEEV*, YUMNAM BIJILAXMI DEVI, R. P. YADAV, AMEY KALE AND THOUNAOJAM THOMAS MEETEI
Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi-284 003 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail: akshaymsaj99@yahoo.com; Mobile: 94975 08352)
(Received: August 15, 2023; Accepted: August 27, 2023)
ABSTRACT
Neem plantations, along with the under-storey crops, protect both the soil and the environment and also help in increasing the socio-economic level of the rural people. The crop yields are often limited by nitrogen availability. This limitation can be overcome by intercropping with legumes in the agro-forestry systems. The present study focused on the effect of different legumes on the availability of nitrogen in a neem-based agroforestry system at the farm of RLBCAU, Jhansi, UP. Seven legumes viz., favabean (or fababean), lathyrus, lentil, green pea (garden pea), white pea (field pea), fenugreek and chickpea were studied for parameters viz., number of nodules, size of nodules, number of branches, colour/position of nodules, plant height, soil available nitrogen, soil pH and soil EC. There was a significant increase in the available N of soil after harvesting of the legumes compared to the initial stage. The pH had significant variation with differing nitrogen levels in the soil, thus it had a correlation. Soil EC was not found to be having any significant effect on the nitrogen content in the soil. In conclusion, all leguminous crops improved nitrogen content in the soil and the maximum increase was in the case of lathyrus, followed by chickpea and field pea.
Key words : Legumes, soil available nitrogen, soil health, fertility, agro-forestry