Development of fruit tree based agroforestry systems for degraded lands – a review

Abstract

Fruit crops are major components of various agroforestry systems (AFS) recommended for degraded lands. Many fruit trees are highly suitable for AFS under varied agroclimatic conditions. Early workers recognized the importance of fruit trees in popularizing fodder production systems among farmers. Initial roles of fruits crops in various AFS were subsidiary because main function of these systems was to enhance fodder production. However, fruits proved to be the primary product for farmers. The first and foremost activity to establish fruit trees in AFS was to identify suitable species. The main basis of species selection is to follow the fruit trees being grown by farmers. Bushes like jharber (Ziziphus nummularia) and caronda (Carissa carandas) are more suitable for cultivation in the natural/sown pasture of anjan (Cenchrus ciliaris) in Bundelkhand region where soil is sandy loam, shallow and underlain by murram layer. Tree species like ber (Z. mauritiana), jharber, etc. can be used for lopping fodder in the tropics. The criteria for MPTS selection may be summarized in the following five steps: (i) Suitability to local edaphic and agroclimatic conditions, (ii) Potential for tree management practices, (iii) Purpose of tree plantation, (iv) Adaptability to the agrarian system, and (v) Socio-economic considerations. Various aspects of hortipastoral system like, tree spacing, growth and productivity of the system, rooting system, nutritive value of tree leaf fodder and impact of climate change were undertaken by various workers. In another approach, native jharber shrubs were budded with improved cultivars of ber, like, Umran and Banarasi Kadaka. The system proved to be a successful low input hortipastoral system for degraded lands. Owing to its popularity among farmers, hortipastoral system was recognized as a separate AFS. Fruit tree based AFS for humid, semiarid and arid climatic regions, like, Agrihorticulture (Crops + Fruit trees), Hortipastoral (Fruit trees + Pasture/Animals), Agrihortisilviculture (Crops + Fruit Trees + MPTS) were identified as potential AFS for sustainable development. Based on long term trials, it has been established that fruit trees when grown with fodder grasses and legumes gave good system productivity. Fruit based AFS, being site specific, need to be developed according to the local agroclimatic conditions and farmers requirements. Emphasis should be there on developing a few generic technologies and leaving ample scope for individual farmer to innovate.