1. Alternate land use systems

Transcript

Hello friends, in the last lectures we studied about selection of the crops, cropping systems and their management, that are very much pertinent to the drylands. Think about a situation, wherein in all drylands it is not possible to grow crops alone. In that situation, what one has to choose. Now here is the answer, that is ‘alternate land use systems’. In today’s lecture we will study the use of ‘alternate land systems’. What are alternate land use systems? Simply it means that, land use systems which are alternatives to crop production are called by the name ‘alternate land use systems’. But if you go through the definition of the alternative land use systems. It indicates, it is defined as economic utilization of the land without harming the natural resource structure based on the land capability.

No doubt it is alternative to crop production. But how, it is economic utilization of the land without harming the natural resource based on the land capability. So it is economic utilization of the land. Then coming to the, what is the component added here. It is, it involves the addition of perennial component, which has drought tolerance, withstand the aberrations of monsoon, and impart stability to production. In addition to crop it has one more component, which is perennial in nature, which has drought tolerance, and which can withstand the aberrant weather and bring stability in the production. So

• Alternatives to crop production,
• Then economic utilization of the land,
• And it involves the component, the perennial component

This three indicate the alternative land use management. Then coming to I told you the alternate land use managements based on the Land Capability Classes. If you see Land Capability Classes, we have 8 Land Capability Classes. Here it is increasing as you move from Land Capability 1 to 8, its limitations and hazards increases. So we can easily cultivate the crops in Capability Class No 1. But as you move from 1 to 2 to 3 and 4, we are increasing the hazardous; that is we are experiencing the limitations in the use of the land. So here we can see that increased intensity of use. So based on this up to class 4, we can use for cultivation. Here also alternate land use systems. Some of the alternate land system models can be used within the class 4 and some of them above the class 4.

Coming to the basic principles. There are some basic principles on which the alternate land use systems are being classified.

• Number 1 is selection of a suitable land use model. There are so many land use models apart from which we have to use the appropriate land use model for the appropriate land capability class.
• Identification of trees/shrubs that are not relished by the livestock. I told you in the alternate land use system, apart from the crop there will be one more perennial component. So it may be a perennial component; it may be a tree component. While selecting the trees and shrubs, we should see that it is not relished by the livestock.
• Then the third principle is that the level of competition; between bushes, crops, soil and water is minimal. It happens every time that when additional component is grown along with the crop; there may be completion for the natural resources. Soil, water and sunlight. But we have to see that the competition for those resources, between crops and trees should be minimal while selecting an alternate land use model.
• Then the fourth principle is that. Consider the farmer’s preference for fruit plants. While selecting a perennial component, take for example the fruit crop. The farmer’s preference should also be taken into consideration. v Then the fifth one. Improved planting spot(dug out pit) this is one crop production measure, wherein the perennial component has been selected. For that selection the production management practices is, we have to have the dug out pits.
• Then the last one is undertake in-situ water harvesting measures. The in-situ water harvesting measures are also important alternative land use practices, wherein we have to take individual tree-wise, individual component-wise the moisture conservation practices.

Then coming to which are all the models available under alternate land use systems.

• Agri-horticulture
• Agri-silviculture
• Alley cropping
• Ley farming
• Silvi-pasture
• And tree farming

These are the six models available under the alternate land use systems. Now among these six models, how to select for a particular piece of land. It goes with the land capability classes. Not only with the land capability classes. It also ranges, it also depends upon the amount of rainfall available with that region. So alternate land use models, land capability classes, rainfall. So the agri-horticulture belongs to class 2 in the rainfall region of 800-1250 millimeter. In that way, whichever the model, we select that should fit it into a particular land capability classes and also a particular region of rainfall amount. For example agrisilvi-culture. It belongs to class 4, wherein it fits in 650-900 millimeter of rainfall. Likewise alley cropping belongs to class 2 and here 800-900 millimeter of rainfall. Ley farming belongs to class 4 and it comes in the range of 300-600 millimeter of rainfall Like this, while choosing a model of alternate land use systems, we have to be very cautious about the model to which land capability classes to which it belongs to. And also the rainfall amount during which it will be grown.

Coming to the ecological interactions between the trees and crops. In case of alternate land use systems, we learnt that there is a perennial component. So what about this perennial component. This ecological interaction with the crops.

• First one is the trees control soil loss and runoff water. Because of their rooting pattern, these tree components controls the soil loss as well as the runoff water.
• Second one is improve the soil properties through efficient nutrient recycling and nutrient conservation. Because of the good rooting patterns the soil structure will be improved, and this because of the improvement in the soil structure; nutrient recycling and nutrient conservation can be achieved.
• Then combination of annual crops and trees can increase the biomass production because of the differences in rooting depths. In case of alternate land use systems, the production of, abundant production of biomass is also important. So the crops as well as the tree components, they produce abundant biomass production, because of the differences in the rooting depths.
• The trees and bushes are less prone than annual crops to extreme soil and climatic conditions. So in case of alternate land use systems, the tree components will also be there. These tree components are less prone to aberrant conditions, when compared to crop systems.
• So trees/bushes ensure at least some returns, even if the crop fails. This is very important. In case of alternate land use systems, how long will the crop component, we will be having a perennial component. If the crop fails, the tree component can be able to yield something, some returns with this.

Coming to the. With this I will be concluding this topic, that all the drylands are not suitable for crop production. These lands can be used for other than the crop production, based on their capabilities. Now it is sure that all the lands; all the drylands are not capable for the crop production. So alternatively, alternate land use systems should be chosen based on their land capabilities. The second thing is that we have told that different models. Different models of the alternate land use systems should be selected based on their; based on their fixing in the particular land capability classes and then rainfall amount. So with this I am concluding this lecture.

Thank You.