Biological activity in tree rhizosphere and association of VAM fungi with tree-roots could be used as selection criteria for agroforestry trees in arid ecosystems. Dehydrogenase activity and VAM fungi association in rhizosphere of six agroforestry trees (Azadirachta indica, Acacia tortilis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Prosopis cineraria and Tecomella undulata) were studied under irrigated and rainfed conditions in the arid zone of India. Higher dehydrogenase activity (9.5 to 16.8$p kat g soil À1 ), root colonization (58.3 to 68.5%) and spore density (132.5 to 234.7 spores 100 g soil À1 ) were observed in tree rhizosphere as compared to that in non-rhizosphere (7.4, 37.7 and 44.4). Irrigation had increased dehydrogenase activity by 22.1% while it reduced root colonization and spore density by 14.2% and 16.2%, respectively. Trees of A. indica had registered maximum growth while E. camaldulensis the least. Findings suggest that selection of A. nilotica, A. indica, and T. undulata for plantations of agroforestry in arid region would reduce the risk and ensure sustainability of the agroforestry system.
This paper has assessed the impact of high-yielding short-duration pearl-millet hybrid on farmers' income in the arid region of Rajasthan. The decomposition of total change in net returns has shown that adoption of modern technology accounted for 86 per cent of the incremental net income, in which the share of varietal change was 58 per cent. This suggests that there is a considerable potential of raising farm income through widespread dissemination of modern pearl millet technology in Rajasthan.
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