Economic tree species planted in strips in an agroforestry system under rainfed conditions adversely affected the grain and stover yield of rabi sorghum. The magnitude of adverse effects varied with different tree species at the end of five years of planting them. Babul and eucalyptus had the highest adverse effects on the yields of sorghum. Teak had the least adverse effects, while sissoo, casuarina, subabul, beagaiijaM and skis had moderate adverse effects. The main causes for reduction in grain and stover yield of rabi sorghum were the extensive and ramifying root system of the tree species both horizontally and vertically downwards. Eucalyptus and babui recorded higher weight of dry roots upto a distance of 4 m on the upstream side from the base of tree line and to a soil depth of 90 cm. The sorghum crop had to face severe competition for soil moisture with the root system of well established tree species and in the process the plant stand of sorghum had to succumb. The soil moisture at all distances in a tree free control plot was more compared to that in association with tree species.