Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Neetha P and Subodh Dhonde

Abstract:
Leaf area serves as a critical functional trait in evaluating the productivity and drought resilience of tree species in semi-arid ecosystems. This study investigates the phenotypic association between leaf area and tree size traits—girth at breast height (GBH), total tree height, and crown diameter—in 90 Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) of Azadirachta indica sampled from three semi-arid districts of South-Eastern Rajasthan: Jhalawar, Kota, and Baran. Results revealed significant positive correlations between leaf area and both GBH (r = 0.64, p < 0.01) and crown diameter (r = 0.71, p< 0.01), while the correlation with tree height was weak and statistically non-significant (r = 0.28, p > 0.05). These findings suggest that lateral and radial expansion are more indicative of foliage development than vertical elongation under moisture-limited conditions. The study provides a trait-based framework for identifying superior phenotypes in Neem and improving selection strategies in dryland forestry.