Agro-forestry Land Management System in Developing Countries-an Overview

Abstract

The agro-forestry system is an ideal land-management system for unproductive and degraded land. It also proves efficacious for soil conservation. Where protection is the primary objective, alley-cropping may serve as the prime candidate. For extensive areas subject to wind erosion !ooheIter belts are an obvious cboice. For orcbards and crops susceptible to wind damage wind-breaks offer good protection. A multi-tier system gives year-round yields of one or the other produce In addition to tbe above benefits, agro-forestry system indirectly helps in building up tbe soil fertility, improving tbe microclimate, conserving tbe soil and water and improving the socio-economic condition of tbe farmer wbo practices it. Hence it is a versatile land management system for sustained yield.