AGROFORESTRY AS A SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR RAVINES AND GULLIED LANDS

Abstract

AUTHORS HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY AS A VIABLE AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF LAND USE IN RAVINE REGIONS. AGROFORESTRY HAS BEEN FOUND MOST EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RUNOFF AND SOIL LOSS AS AGAINST AGRICULTURAL LANDUSE. SILVI- PASTURE SYSTEM ( ACACIA NILOTICA+ DICHANTHIUM ANNULATUM) RECORDED 65.5% AND 62.0% LESS RUNOFF AND SOIL LOSS THAN AGRICULTURAL LANDUSE ( SORGHUM+PIGEONPEA), RESPECTIVELY. APART FROM MINIMISING EROSION LOSSES, IMPROVEMENT IN PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND AVAILABILITY OF NUTRIENTS WERE ALSO REPORTED UNDER AGROFORESTRY LANDUSES. ALLEY CROPPING ON RECLAIMED RAVINE SHAD SIGNIFICANT ROLE, AS IT ENSURED THE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF FOOD, FUEL AND FODDER, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCED PLANT NUTRIENTS IN SOIL THROUGH RECYCLING LEUCAENA LEAVES WHICH HAD REDUCED THE FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT OF CROP UPTO A GREATER EXTENT. FURTHER , SILVI- PASTORAL SYSTEM VIZ. A - NILOTICA+ CENCHRUS CILIARIS PROVIDED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF FUEL AND FODDER IN DEEP RAVINES