2. Models of alternate land use systems

Transcript

Hi friends, in the previous lecture we studied about the principles and concept of Alternate Land Use Systems. In the present lecture we will be studying about the different models available in the alternate land use systems. I told you about the alternate land use systems. They are used alternative to the crop production. They are economical utilization of the land without deteriorating the natural resource. And in this there is an additional component; perennial component will be there.

Next coming to the various models. First one we will take it of : Agri-Horticulture.

In this model as the name itself indicates, here practice of cultivating the crops along with the horticulture component. Horticulture component, it can be food crops, it can be vegetables and it can be any horticulture components. So growing of horticulture component along with the agriculture. I mean to say along with the crops, it is known as agri-horticulture. In this it is suitable in semi-arid regions, where the annual crop production is low and highly unstable. This particular system; agri-horticulture is suitable for semi-arid regions, where the crop production is highly unstable and also the crop production is very low. In these categories, in these regions agri-horticulture can effectively adopted.

Coming to the next one: Agri-Silviculture

In this the production technique which combines the growing of agricultural crops, with simultaneously raised and protected forest crops. It is nothing but agri-silviculture. The raising of crops along with the forest species. In this the forest species, different species are also grown along with the agriculture crops. The forest species may be the trees, bushes and anything. So in this it is a production technique, wherein the crops; agricultural crops are being raised along with the forest species.

Next coming to the: Alley Farming

What is an Alley Farming? It is an alternate land use system, where crops are grown in alleys, formed by the hedgerows of trees or shrubs. It is more profitable to plant hedgerows on the contours with 10-20 meter spacing. Here what happens, along the contour lands. This forest species, they are hedgerows are planted along the coutours. In between the contours whatever the spaces available, it is called as hedges. In between the hedges there will be crop component. So it is an alternate land use system, where the crops are grown in the alleys formed by the hedgerows. So this is known as alley farming. One important feature of this system is, there may be shading effect by the trees, grown in the alleys. So in that system to ward of this matter, what they will do during the crop growth, the tree crops will be pruned so that the shading effect and the competition for resource will be avoided.

Next coming to: Ley Farming

What is Ley Farming? The ley farming aims to generate in-situ fertility, through the rotation of legume forages with cereals. It’s important for increased fodder production, a critical component in the rainfed farming. So ley farming wherein we will be producing the forages, the cereal forages and also the legumes. They are grown alternatively in rotation, so that the in-situ soil fertility will be developed and there will be also production of fodder, which is a very critical component in the rainfed farming.

Then coming to the: Silvi-Pasture

This is very much adoptable in case marginal drylands, where the crop production is very low. And the crops are not being raised profitably. In that situation, in marginal land situation this silvi-pasture will be adopted. The marginal dryland generally shallow and poor in nutrients. Can also yield better returns through fuel wood and fodder. And after 6 to 8 year rotation even the arable crops can be grown on built up soil fertility. In this marginal drylands shallow and poor in nutrients, these yield better with the silvipasture, that is forestry species along with the forage or the fodder species will be grown. After a 6 year rotation, because of the built up of the soil fertility due to forage crops as well as the forest species, even the arable crops also will be grown profitably. In this the system is most preferable where the fodder shortages are experienced frequently. This system, where the silvi-pasture system is most probably recommended for the lands, where the forage; where the fodder shortages are heavily. Where the fodder shortages occur very frequently. In those areas this silvi-pasture system can be adopted.

Then studying all these models of alternate land use systems, we can conclude in this way. The crop production may be disastrous in the years of drought, whereas drought resistant grasses and trees could be remunerative. So whenever in case of crop production, whenever the drought occurs, we cannot profitably raise the crops. But the forages or the pasture crops; they come of very well in situations of drought also. In this system adoption of alternate land use system will be very much helpful.

This system not only helps in generating much needed off season employment in the mono-crop drylands, but also utilize off season rains which may go otherwise go waste as runoff. Here this system also creates some of the employment generation during the off season. In addition to creating employment generation, it traps the off season rainfall, otherwise which could have gone waste. And like this it also helps in arresting the degradation process of the drylands.

Next one. The different land use systems so developed should be used in a better way, for increased and stabilized production in the drylands. We have studied various models of alternate land use systems. So scientists have been studying and they have validated these systems. And they have recommended for the adoption. So these systems have to be profitably adopted, so as to maintain stability of production in the drylands. With this I am closing this lecture.

Thank You.