Traditional Agroforestry Systems
of Northeast India
Sourabh Deb
Abstract Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has been considered as a superior system that permits significant and ecological interaction between the woody and non woody components.
These traditional systems have been widely practiced by the people of Northeast
India since time immemorial. A study has been conducted among three communities viz., Kalita (Assam) and Nyishi and Apatani (Arunachal Pradesh) of Northeast
India to understand the structure, economy, soil quality and management aspects
of traditional agroforestry systems. The study revealed that the systems have the
potential to preserve the plant and animal diversity in different climatic zones of
the region. Different plant species grown in these multistoried agroforestry systems
are confounded by the livelihood requirements and traditional knowledge. The most
prevalent agroforestry systems in Northeast India observed during the study are Agrihorti-silvi-pisciculture, Agri-horti-silviculture and Horti-silvi-pastoral systems. The
systems have also been categorized on the basis of economic output viz., Subsistencebased agroforestry system, Semi-commercial agroforestry system and Commercial
agroforestry system. Species composition of the traditional agroforestry systems also
varied with residue management, soil and climate of the sites. The soil nutrient status
of Agri-horti-silvi-pastoral systems shows more favourable soil physical, chemical
and biological properties in comparison to other agroforestry systems. An understanding of indigenous practices, therefore, offers excellent opportunities for finding
solutions to the problems of self reliance in agricultural development of the region.
Keywords Indigenous · Tradition · Management · Agroforestry · Economic aspect
S. Deb (B)
Department of Forestry and Biodiversity, Tripura University,
Suryamaninagar, Tripura 799022, India
e-mail: drsourabhdeb@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Roy et al. (eds.), Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions
in Resource use and Conservation, Environmental Science and Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32463-6_5
103
of Northeast India
Sourabh Deb
Abstract Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has been considered as a superior system that permits significant and ecological interaction between the woody and non woody components.
These traditional systems have been widely practiced by the people of Northeast
India since time immemorial. A study has been conducted among three communities viz., Kalita (Assam) and Nyishi and Apatani (Arunachal Pradesh) of Northeast
India to understand the structure, economy, soil quality and management aspects
of traditional agroforestry systems. The study revealed that the systems have the
potential to preserve the plant and animal diversity in different climatic zones of
the region. Different plant species grown in these multistoried agroforestry systems
are confounded by the livelihood requirements and traditional knowledge. The most
prevalent agroforestry systems in Northeast India observed during the study are Agrihorti-silvi-pisciculture, Agri-horti-silviculture and Horti-silvi-pastoral systems. The
systems have also been categorized on the basis of economic output viz., Subsistencebased agroforestry system, Semi-commercial agroforestry system and Commercial
agroforestry system. Species composition of the traditional agroforestry systems also
varied with residue management, soil and climate of the sites. The soil nutrient status
of Agri-horti-silvi-pastoral systems shows more favourable soil physical, chemical
and biological properties in comparison to other agroforestry systems. An understanding of indigenous practices, therefore, offers excellent opportunities for finding
solutions to the problems of self reliance in agricultural development of the region.
Keywords Indigenous · Tradition · Management · Agroforestry · Economic aspect
S. Deb (B)
Department of Forestry and Biodiversity, Tripura University,
Suryamaninagar, Tripura 799022, India
e-mail: drsourabhdeb@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Roy et al. (eds.), Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions
in Resource use and Conservation, Environmental Science and Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32463-6_5
103