Agroforestry interventions for mitigating climate change in semi-arid regions of telangana state, India

The field experiments were conducted in pearl millet kharif, 2010, rabi, 2010-11 and 2013-14 in young plantations of Pongamia pinnata and Meila azedarach at Agroforestry research block, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, T.S. All field experiments were laid out in randomized block design, replicated thrice with nine treatment combinations in Sweet Sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet. The experimental soil was red sandy loam in texture, neutral, non saline and medium in organic carbon, low to medium in available NPK. In pearl millet kharif 2010, the results showed that, integrated use of 80 kg N along with 10 t ha-1 pongamia green leaf manure (PGLM) was significantly influenced the grain (2345 kg ha-1) and stover yield (3600 kg ha-1) in Pongamia based agri-silvi system. The combined application of 80 kg N ha-1 + PGLM 10 t ha-1 significantly the NPK content in both grain (1.54, 0.51, 0.53%) and stover (0.40, 0.22, 2.7%). Pertaining to soil parameters significant and higher available N (171 kg ha-1) and P (27.86 kg ha-1) was found with 80 kg N + PGLM 10 t ha-1, where as higher available K (292.0 kg ha-1) was found with by fertilizer alone i.e. 80 N kg ha-1. In rabi pearlmillet 2010-2011, the grain (2167 kg ha-1) and stover yield was significantly affected by the conjunctive use of 75% RD N + 25% N through Poultry manure. Regarding soil parameters the highest content of OC (0.73%) and available N and P (219.8 and 24.53 kg ha-1) was found with same nutrient management practice. In case of finger millet the highest grain (2681 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5063 kg ha-1) was recorded in sole crop without trees and on par with agroforestry system, where conjunctive use of inorganics and organics i.e. 75% RD N+ 25% N poultry manure (2405 and 4733 kg ha-1) and 100% RDF (2393 and 4745 kg ha-1). The same treatment resulted higher nutrient content (1.32, 0.265, 0.47 and 1.31, 0.264, 0.47%), OC (0.92 and 0.88%) and available NPK (317.0, 37.76, 366.0 and 291.8, 39.04, 355.3 kg ha-1).