Agroforestry practices in a critical watershed
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Date
2005-08
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Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, Supplement
Abstract
Agroforestry involves the systematic integration of tree crops and agricultural/food crops under one management scheme. This land-use system is practiced in the hillsides of the tropics but thought in the past to be inappropriate in critical watersheds. This paper aims to present various agroforestry practices in the Kaliwa watershed in the Philippines which is considered as critical. It is located in the municipalities of Tanay and Gen. Nakar in the provinces ofRizal and Quezon, respectively. It covers an area of 27,608 hectares. The area is characterized by various land uses, landscapes, vegetation and rivers. About 7000 poor rural households or approximately 37,868 individuals in the eight villages inhabit inside in the watershed. To improve the ecological well being of the watershed while enhancing the socio-economic status of the forest occupants, the government adopted a land-use system called agroforestry. It focuses on the integration of forest tree crops, agricultural crops, small-ruminants, native chicken, fish and other components in one management system. The land use system is designed to allow the production of crops to meet their immediate needs of a family without sacrificing environmental sustainability. Various agroforestry farming systems were set up in different villages. Nitrogen fixing tree species, botanical pesticide tree, vetiver grass (for erosion control) horticultural fruit trees were planted. The alleys were planted with mungbean, soybean, pineapple rice and corn. Goat and sheep were raised using the concept of cut-and-carry system. Native chicken are raised to provide egg and meat for the farmers. The integration of fish production and tree growing are established Nitrogen trees were planted around the aqua-silviculture pond. Other crops such as Tiger grass are planted in the alley to reduce soil erosion and the flowers can be made into soft brooms, thus augmenting farm income while minimizing soil erosion. All organic materials such as litter fall, trimmings, weeds and the like are chopped/shredded and decomposed with the help of native surface-earthworms. The vermin-composts were applied to the vegetables or other crops. The agroforestry practices that were introduced in the watershed are adopted by the farmers with great enthusiasm.
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Salamanca, E. F. & Muuss, U. (2005). Agroforestry practices in a critical watershed. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, Supplement, (83), 33-41. https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/33947418913
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