EFFECT OF TRACTORIZATION ON REDUCTION IN NATURAL POPULATION OF PROSOPIS CINERARIA (L.) IN AGRO ECOSYSTEM OF THAR DESERT.

A study on the effect of tractor ploughing during 2013-14 was conducted at North western districts of Rajasthan viz., Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Nagaur. It was observed that naturally regenerated Khejri seedlings usually get destroyed during tractor ploughing in the farmers fields. As per the observation average numbers of new Khejri seedlings in 30x 30 m2 plot were more in Gochar land /undulated lands (0.38 ± 0.06 per plot) as compared to tractor ploughed agriculture land in which average number of new Khejri seedlings was recorded 0.04±0.02 per plot. It seems that buttressing of Khejri population is very difficult due to implementation of advanced changes in Indian agroecosystem. Also the population of the old existing Khejri trees has been reduced during past few decades due to biotic and abiotic stresses. This calls for protection of naturally regenerated Khejri seedlings as these can help in increasing the density of Khejri trees in Rajasthan.