Maximizing the productivity, economic gain, and soil fertility of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)-based agroforestry system through intercropping interventions

The present study was conducted during 2023-2024 at ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi with the objectives that to evaluate the yield, yield attributes, and economics of different intercrops (barley, wheat, and chickpea) grown under a guava-based agroforestry and their effects on soil physico-chemical properties in comparison with conventional sole cropping. Yield attributes of crops were recorded significantly higher under sole cropping than guava-based agroforestry. Biological yield (9069, 9310 and 3197 kg ha-1) and harvest index (44.43, 44.37 and 43.93%) was also observed maximum under sole cropping than under AFS (7578, 8235 and 2497 kg ha-1) and (43.44, 44.09 and 40.85%) for barley, wheat and chickpea, respectively while the system productivity for guava-based agroforestry ranged between 77.80-99.72% higher over the sole cropping. Wheat equivalent yield was recorded maximum for guava + wheat agroforestry. Guava-based agroforestry system significantly improved soil physico-chemical properties including OC, N, P, and K availability over the sole cropping. Gross return (₹ 196538 ha-1) as well as net return (₹154867 ha-1) were found maximum for guava + wheat based agroforestry system. However, Guava + barley agroforestry exhibited the highest B: C ratio of 3.83 while guava + wheat agroforestry shown the maximum land equivalent ratio (1.81).