Introductory Agroforestry

The origin of agroforestry practices―growing trees and shrubs with food and fruit crops and grasses is traditional and very old―but the science of agroforestry is new. Years of experience and experiments have shown that agroforestry as a land-use system is capable of yielding both food and wood and at the same time helps in conserving and rehabilitating the ecosystems. It has the capability to increase the overall productivity of land, maintain the nutrient balance in the soil, and above all, protect the nature. In the recent years, agroforestry has been recommended as a core subject in the curriculum of B. Sc. (Forestry) and B. Sc. (Agriculture) courses of agricultural universities. This book has been divided into ten chapters covering very comprehensive information on all aspects of agroforestry including history, concepts, systems classification, tree-crop interactions, planning and management, diagnosis and design, policy and projects, and propagation and management practices of multipurpose trees. Print and electronic editions not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan). Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Preface Table of Contents Glossary 1 Agroforestry - A Sustainable Land Use System Definitions of agroforestry Key traits of agroforestry practices Premises of agroforestry Objectives of agroforestry Need of agroforestry Potential of agroforestry in India Benefits from agroforestry Limitations of agroforestry 2 Social Forestry Characteristics of social forestry Objectives of social forestry Scope of social forestry Components of social forestry Roadside plantation Railway line plantation Canal banks plantation 3 Status of Indian Forests Classification of forest History of Indian forests Present status of Indian forests Forest types of India Role of forests in farming systems 4 Agroforestry System, Subsystem and Practice Agrisilvicultural systems Silvipastoral systems Agrisilvipastoral system Other agroforestry systems 5 Tree Crop Interaction in Agroforestry Nature of interactions Factors affecting interactions Types of interactions Management options to neutralize negative interactions 6 Selection of Tree Crop Species for Agroforestry Benefits from multipurpose trees Selection of appropriate species Characteristics of MPTs suitable for agroforestry Role of MPTs in agroforestry Suitable MPTs for agroforestry under different climatic conditions Suitable MPTs for agroforestry under different soil types 7 Agroforestry Planning and Management Factors affecting the selection of tree species Tree propagation methods Nursery management Tree management Agricultural crop management Management of fruit trees in agroforestry systems Constraints in adoption of agroforestry technology 8 Agroforestry Diagnosis and Design Key Features of D & D Agroforestry systems research process Micro D & D Methodological considerations in D & D 9 Agroforestry Policy and Projects History of agroforestry research International institutes working in forest conservation and research Agroforestry research initiatives in India National Agroforestry Policy, 2014 10 Management Practices of Multipurpose Trees Mangium (Acacia mangium) Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) Khaira (Acacia catechu) Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia) Teak (Tectona grandis) Neem (Azadirachta indica) Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) Phalsa (Grewia spp.) Mulberry (Morus alba) Poplar (Populus deltoides) Oak (Quercus spp.) Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) Selected References Web Links Index The origin of agroforestry practices—growing trees and shrubs with food and fruit crops and grasses is traditional and very old—but the science of agroforestry is new. Years of experience and experiments have shown that agroforestry as a land-use system is capable of yielding both food and wood and at the same time helps in conserving and rehabilitating the ecosystems. It has the capability to increase the overall productivity of land, maintain the nutrient balance in the soil, and above all, protect the nature. In the recent years, agroforestry has been recommended as a core subject in the curriculum of B. Sc. (Forestry) and B. Sc. (Agriculture) courses of agricultural universities. This book has been divided into ten chapters covering very comprehensive information on all aspects of agroforestry including history, concepts, systems classification, tree-crop interactions, planning and management, diagnosis and design, policy and projects, and propagation and management practices of multipurpose trees.This book is co-published with NIPA. Taylor and Francis does not sell or distribute its print and electronic editions in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.