NO. 29 MARCH 2007 ISSN 0859-9742 Dear readers Once again, we welcome you to the continuous need of upland poverty alleviation, and increased another issue of the Asia-Pacific farmers for fodder to sustain women’s involvement in forestry Agroforestry Newsletter (APANews) - livestock production, while activities. a collaboration among the Food minimizing the shading effect of and Agriculture Organization of the fodder trees on crops. As always, there are United Nations, the Southeast Asian announcements, information Network for Agroforestry Education You will be interested in the article resources, and websites that may be (SEANAFE), and the World featuring the integration of walnut in useful in the implementation of your Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). This an agroforestry system in Chile. various agroforestry projects. issue presents several researches on Walnut (Juglans regia) produces the use of specific crops and tree high-quality timber and nuts. The Meanwhile, SEANAFE News discusses species in various agroforestry article discusses the growth of about the project on marketing of systems, including their impacts on walnut trees under various planting agroforestry tree products (AFTPs). productivity, regeneration, and designs. Results of two case studies are farmers’ income. presented: the market chains of Another article presents the cashew nuts in Vietnam, and the The article on the integration of research results from implementing marketing of bamboo in Laos. Other Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) with taungya system using Khaya articles in this issue of SEANAFE News various crops outlines its use as a anthoteca in a mixed cropping highlight the activities of the fodder tree and source of high model. Vietnam Network for Agroforestry quality wood. It describes how Khejri Education, and the Philippine contributes to increased soil fertility Other articles in this issue deal with Agroforestry Education and and sand dune stabilization. More the adoption of horti-silvicultural Research Network. importantly, it highlights how the models and their effect on three-year lopping rotation of Khejri increased productivity in India, and Again, thank you to all the maximizes fodder production and the impacts of participatory contributors for this issues of ensures seed supply for agroforestry practices in APANews and SEANAFE News. We regeneration. northeastern Bangladesh. The look forward to more of your adoption of horti-silvicultural models contributions. Let us continue to Developments in agrisilvopastoral has helped increase farmers’ share and practice agroforestry, and systems are featured in an article incomes, although substantial effort further contribute to its promotion from Nepal. The article highlights the is still needed to sustain this and development. – The Editors research results from planting trial of initiative. Meanwhile, participatory various fodder crops in terraces. This agroforestry practices have proven is an innovative way of addressing their potential to contribute to DISCLAIMER. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO and SEANAFE concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor(s) of FAO and SEANAFE. OUR ADDRESS. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand; Website: http://www.fao.org and http://www.fao.or.th; E-mail [email protected]; SEANAFE c/o World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Southeast Asia Regional office, PO Box 61, Bogor 16001, Indonesia; Website: http:// www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/networks/Seanafe/Index.asp; E-mail [email protected] PRODUCTION. Patrick B. Durst, Kenichi Shono, and Wilfredo M. Carandang (Editorial Consultants); Leah P. Arboleda (Editor); Rowena D. Cabahug (Editorial Assistant); Perseveranda G. Tubig and Reinelen M. Reyes (Production Assistants) COVER PHOTO. Coconut-based agroforestry systems are common in Philippine rural areas. In this photo, coconut- based agroforestry systems have helped farmers in the province of Quezon make use of large tracts of arable, sloping and mountainous areas. Farmers are cultivating pineapple, papaya, root crops, vegetables, and fruit trees underneath coconut trees. This type of system also provides farmers with other coconut products such as husks, oil, wine, copra, and others. (Photo courtesy of IAF) PRINTER. Thammada Press Co. Ltd., 86 Soi 5011 Charansanitwong Road, Bangplad, Bangkok 10700 Thailand 2 March 2007 APANews No. 29 agroforestry research Three-year lopping rotation of Prosopis cineraria maximizes fodder production, ensures sustainable regeneration Kulvir S Bangarwa and M.S.Hooda ([email protected]) Prosopis cineraria, commonly sand dune stabilization. The Khejri fodder. Maximum yield of fodder is known as Khejri, occurs naturally in tree has a deep tap root system; obtained when trees are pollarded dry and arid regions of India therefore, it does not compete for on a three-year rotation. Bhimaya (southwest Haryana and moisture and nutrients with crops et al. (1964) reported that if trees Rajasthan), Pakistan, Afghanistan, grown close to its trunk. It casts only of Khejri are lopped at a three- Iran, and Arabia. Khejri is extremely a light shade, a desirable year interval, they produce drought-tolerant, growing in areas characteristic for agro-forestry 172-242 percent more leaf fodder with as little as 75 mm of annual species. by weight than those recurrently rainfall (but generally 150-400 mm) lopped. Lopping at shorter with dry seasons of eight months or Farmers in arid and semi-arid intervals not only decreases the more. It is slightly frost-hardy and regions of India and Pakistan have yield but also causes the mortality tolerant to temperatures of up to long believed it to increase soil of trees. 50°C. The tree is found in alluvial, fertility in crop fields. Yields of coarse, and sandy, often alkaline sorghum (Jowar) and pearl millet Farmers usually lop their trees soils where the pH may reach 9.8. (Bajra) increased when grown under during the winter every year. Khejri because of the higher Lopping starts in mid-November Khejri is much valued as a fodder organic matter content, total and continues up to January, with tree. Its leaves provide excellent nitrogen, available phosphorus, and most of the lopping carried out in and nutritious fodder that are soluble calcium, as well as lower pH the last week of November and readily eaten by animals such as of the soil. first week of December. Dried camels, goats, and donkeys. The leaves (loong or loom) are stored tree produces leaves during the The leaves and pods of Khejri for use in drier seasons. extremely dry summer months when constitute a major source of most other trees are leafless. Its Because completely lopped trees leaves contain 13.8 percent crude do not produce seeds (Toky and protein, 20 percent crude fiber, Harris, 2004), balancing the and 18 per cent calcium (FFN, production of fodder and seeds is 1991). an important consideration. The shortage of seeds is a major Khejri pods, containing a dry sweet limiting factor in ensuring the pulp, also provide good fodder. regeneration of this wonder tree. Green pods, called sangar, are Continued on page 4 boiled and dried for human consumption. Its flowers, during March and April, are valuable for honey production. Khejri bark, meanwhile, can also be used in leather tanning and yields an edible gum. Its bark and flowers are Leguminous crop with also used for medicinal purposes. Prosopis cineraria. The wood of Khejri is used for agricultural implements, house buildings, posts, carts, tools, Pods of handles, and boat frames. It is also Prosopis an excellent source of firewood for cineraria. cooking and domestic heating. Khejri is considered one of the best Cotton crop with species for soil improvement and Prosopis cineraria. APANews No. 29 March 2007 3 agroforestry research Three-year lopping rotation... References: 1) Bhimaya, C.P., Kaul, R.N. and Ganguli, B.N. 1964. Studies on Continued from page 3 High quality wood lopping intensities of Prosopis spicigera. of Prosopis The recommended three-year Indian Forester, 90: 19-23; 2) FFN. 1991. cineraria. rotation in lopping maximizes Spotlight on species: Prosopis cineraria. fodder production while ensuring Farm Forestry News, Vol.4, No.3; 3) Toky, an adequate supply of seeds for O.P. and Harris, P.J.C. 2004. sustainable regeneration. To Socioeconomic and ecological niche of Prosopis implement the three-year lopping khejri (Prosopis cineraria) in traditional cineraria. rotation, farmers are advised to farming systems of arid India. Asian Agri- produces equally divide the total number of History 8 (3): 215-233. The author good trees into three groups. The trees works at the Department of Forestry, CCS forage. are marked with the group number Haryana Agricltural University, Hisar – and each group of trees is lopped 125 004 India. completely in November- December each year. The use of green pods (sangar) is also discouraged in order to conserve the seeds for use in propagation. Fodder crop with Prosopis cineraria. Cultivation of fodder in terrace riser: a new model of agrisilvopastoral system in Nepal Tanka Prasad Barakoti In Nepal, more than 80 percent of highly on livestock. Farmers collect seven months during the winter and the population is involved in manure from livestock to fertilize summer up to the monsoon period. agriculture, which contributes to crops. They are aware that manure As land areas are limited, about 45 percent of the total gross plays a vital role in adding nutrients smallholding farmers cannot afford domestic product of the country. to the soil. In addition, livestock to grow fodder and forage on Large farming areas lie in the hills provides food and income. Thus, croplands. Hence, there is a need to (68%) along a range of reliefs and agriculture development through explore the potential of fodder altitudes (100-3 000 m asl).