multipurpose tree species research for small farms: strategies ... - part

vigorously, reaching the pre-thinned height in
about t,:',o ;'cars. Similarly. a mechanicalthinning
of Leucaen' ov K-8 at 2 years yieldcd 26.4 t/ha of
fuel followeJ by another 46.4 t/ha at the final
harvest in the 4th year.
For fodder, pollarding ofGrewia spaced at
2x2m beginning at the age of 4 years yielded 3.3
t/ha of fodder and 8.(0) t/ha of fuel annually. Ten
year old mulberry plants have shown average yields
of 32.98 t/ha of fodder and 34.93 t/ha of fuel
annually. The leaves of Grewia providc good
fodder for cattle and those of mulberry for
silkworms. It provides off-farm income and
additional employment for small-scalc farmers,
These management practices reduce the waiting
time for tang'ible returns, and inspire confidence of
futu;e benefits in the farmers.
Fuel/Fodder Combinations
Mixtures of foragc/fibcr grasses it the spacings
between the rows of trees on degraded lands
produce fodder within one year, which meets the
need for fodder and reduces the waiting period for
a return. In the following two years, at age 3-4, leaf
fodder and fucl is available for the farmers,
Because it is located nearby, it saves time and
effort in hauling the fuclwood and fodder, which
are integral to the small farm economy. The yield
potential for some of the combinations at the
Institute are presented in Table 2. Degraded lands
can best be utilized to lcsscn the drudgery of
women and the elderly who are normally
responsible for collecting fuclwood and fodder.
Multipurpose Trees
lands are an ideal site for short
Degraded hds rc an i de for,
rotation species to produce fuclwvood, fodder,
fiber, small timber and fruit trees. These have a
high production potential with suitable
management practices. The production v'aries w~ith
the felling cycle and age of the species. When
harvested at the peak of growth, the production
per unit area is maximized. For example, 21.0 t/ha
of fuel in eight -;cars with A. fortilis in Agra, and
334.04 t/ha from P. caribaca at the age of 14 in
Dehra Dun have been recorded. The production
potential of species with a rotation up to 17 years is
given in Table 3. The study shows that the
benefit/cost ratio with a monoculturc varies
between 1.37 to 1.9 in Eucalyptus, and D. strictus
reached 4.0, but this was very site-specific.
Forage/fiber grasses
Sites with a thin mantle of soil are the best
186
natural habitats for forage grasses and have
been utilized for fodder production for
gencrations. The forage yield potential works
out to 39.0 t/ha with hybrid napier. The average
vield for perennial foragc grasses was 5 t/ha for
(:Aciliaris.
Conclusion
Food scarcity is a chronic problem in
developing countries, apd productive lands
(Class I-IV) can not be dverted for tree
production except under agroforestry systems.
Reforestation programs should, therefore, be
restricted to non-arab lands.
In recent years, development projects and
-elf-sufficiency in food programs have led to
better cducali'on, higher per capita income and
better living standards. This has increased the
demand for land for housing, open space, grecn
belts, industries, cducational and social
institutions, etc. The pressure on the land has
increased exponcntially. The concept of the
potcntial for fuclwood and charcoal production
on degraded land is becoming more important
in order to maximize the Output of these
products. These lands need judicious
management and invite the direct involvement
of small-scale farmers to explore a technology
which may be in their best interest. It has the
potential to alleviate some of the hardships of
small-scale farm families.
Suggestions for the Future
emphasized Short-term
by the
economic
judicious
benefits
utilization
should
of
be
water
and allied rcsources with the integration of two
and
he incorpo
three tiered
rated
crop
int[o the
mixtures.
farming
MPTS
system
should
to
e i finc odd frit, rming and to
provide fuel, oder, fruit, resin, and gum.
Cottage industries and off-farm employment
generation have an cxistinf shot. demanld be promoted, in the marketplace
and trees which
havla et mn inhm el
should be emphasized.
References
Central Soil & Water Conservation Research
and Training Institute. 1980. 25 Reears of
Rearcd in Soil and Water Cnseatio i
R il Dtt/ Soise/wv.
Smi-ari Black DepaSoils,BClla r.
Mofiograph No. 1. Dchra Dun: C&WCR&TI.
. 1980-1988. Annual ProgressReport.
Dchra Dun: CS&WCR&TI.