On-farm evaluation of two fast growing trees for biomass production for industrial use in Andhra Pradesh, Southern India

On-farm experiments were conducted in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh from 2001 to 2006 to evaluate the biomass productivity, intercrop yields and profitability of Eucalyptus tereticornis clonal and Leucaena leucocephala variety K-636 based systems. Trees were planted at a spacing of 3 × 2 m and evaluated at three locations. Height growth was significantly higher in leucaena during the 4 year where as difference in diameter growth was not significant . Biomass partitioning to the bole was high in case of leucaena, ranged from 83% in 2.5–5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) trees to 89% in 12.5–15 cm DBH trees and in eucalyptus clones the corresponding values were 71% in 2.5–5 cm DBH trees and 83% in 12.5–15 cm DBH trees. Marketable biomass productivity was higher with leucaena (95 Mg ha −1 ) in comparison to eucalyptus (87 Mg ha −1 ). Competition effects of trees on intercrops were observed from the 2 year (2002 post-rainy season). Intercrop yields were 45% of the sole crop in eucalyptus system and 36% in leucaena system during the 2 year. Sole eucalyptus and leucaena plantations and intercropping systems recorded higher gross and net returns over arable cropping. Therefore, it can be concluded that leucaena variety K636 and eucalyptus clonal based agroforestry systems are profitable alternatives to arable cropping under rainfed conditions.