Crop Production in Semi-arid Tropics With Help of Only Tree Leaves and Its Components - a New Focus in Agroforestry Research

Abstract Consumers are increasingly asking for "organic" labels on food due to negative consequences of indiscriminate pesticide use, and hence, we are pushed to produce environmentally friendly food, using organic, natural farming and agroforestry methods. This article discusses an innovative yet traditional method of growing food crops using solely trees, their by products, and parts to nurture and protect crops, and preserve soil fertility. Both native and introduced leguminous tree leaves work to improve soil fertility while tree leaf extracts give crops foliar nutrition and disease, pest protection. The performance of tree based farming practices with conventional practice of crop cultivation was compared by adopting standard crop production guide (CPG) practices and zero input (do-nothing) practice in kodomillet during Rabi seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 (November–February) at experimental farm. Soil enrichment with Gliricidia sepium (jacq.) Steud tree leaf biomass incorporation and four-time foliar application of tree leaf extracts with Annona squamosa (L.) registered highest pooled (mean of two years) grain yield (974 kg − 1 ) and straw yield (2887 kg − 1 ), with a meagre yield penalty of less than 10% in comparison to the CPG practice.