Impact of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. shelterbelts on crops

Abstract

The economic yield of chickpea, lentil, wheat, cauliflower, barseem, and toria in a 12-m-wide strip to the south of 8 ±1-year-old Eucalyptus tereticornis shelterbelts (three different locations) was reduced by more than half. Among all the crops under study, the yield of chickpea was reduced by the maximum extent. The content of soil phytotoxins was maximum in the litter-free top soil surface, compared to that at 30 or 60 cm depths, at all distances from the Eucalyptus. Maximum content of phytotoxins was found at 1 m from the tree line for all depths. These soil phytotoxins impaired the germination of Lens esculentum, thus indicating an allelopathic effect. It is included that the poor perfornce of crops in the sheltered area is related to an allelopathic effect of the Eucalyptus.