Traditional Agroforestry Systems of Northeast India
113
use of nutrients. It also can control runoff and soil erosion, thereby reducing losses
of water, soil, organic matter and nutrients. So it can be used for soil conservation in
most of the hilly slopes of the north east region. The favourable effects of traditional
agroforestry systems upon soils can be achieved without reducing production, thereby
leading to sustainable land use by conserving soil fertility (Deb et al. 2009).
5 Traditional Management Practices
For management of traditional agroforestry system farmers are generally aware especially in summer season when abundant of obnoxious weeds are present in the farmland. They prefer to burn or use biochemicals to suppress the weed growth and their
competition with the main crop. The farmers of Kalita community use cowdung
and other biofertilizers in their field, which might have enhanced the soil organic
matter. They also cultivated N 2 -fixing plants like Cajanus cajan, Erythrina indica
and Bauhinia variegata mostly in their agricultural field. The farmers of the tribal
community are more aware about the management of the system and able to grow
more fruit trees than other agroforestry systems. It was also observed that the nursery
raising plot of Oryza sativa is used for pulses cultivation as the area is considered no
more suitable for paddy cultivation for 1–2 years. Pruning and weeding is done and
mulches are used properly in the field they believe mulching increases soil fertility.
Cleaning and weeding also done two or three times in a year in some agroforestry
field depending on the ground vegetation. In many places of Northeast India, it is
observed that community after harvesting sugarcane plant, the field is kept as such
for one year for regeneration of the same plant from its rhizome. The residue of
sugarcane is burnt in the field itself which is considered good for soil health. They
feel that burning of the plant residue will destroy all earlier years pathogens from the
field, whereas others feel that burning contributes more nutrients to the soil. Faecal
matter of poultry and piggery is used for agroforestry field as well as in fish pond
in animal based agroforestry systems. Faecal matter of goat is specifically used as
fertilizer for Cucurbita and Pumpkin plant. No chemicals applied as the farmers
believed that such chemicals deteriorate the soil and unsuitable for betel leaf husbandry. Few plants are used in slope land like cashewnut, pineapple, bamboo, etc.
Hill variety of Sugarcane is also used for sloppy land. In Nyishi community farmers
prefer to cultivate timber-yielding plants that may have more coarse roots in their
field, and they are less aware of biofertilizer application. Poor management practices
such as frequent burning and cutting, grazing by animals was also observed in this
field. The ashes collected after cooking are also used in the field and on the leaf of
brinjal and Cucurbita plant as pesticides. It is observed that the in general fruits are
preferred by non tribal community whereas timbers by tribal community. However,
the diversity of these traditional agroforestry systems are decreasing day by day due
to shortage of land and lacking of traditional knowledge by the younger generation.
Therefore, some management approach is required for careful planning on the basis
of valuable information, implementation, associated research, monitoring systematic
113
use of nutrients. It also can control runoff and soil erosion, thereby reducing losses
of water, soil, organic matter and nutrients. So it can be used for soil conservation in
most of the hilly slopes of the north east region. The favourable effects of traditional
agroforestry systems upon soils can be achieved without reducing production, thereby
leading to sustainable land use by conserving soil fertility (Deb et al. 2009).
5 Traditional Management Practices
For management of traditional agroforestry system farmers are generally aware especially in summer season when abundant of obnoxious weeds are present in the farmland. They prefer to burn or use biochemicals to suppress the weed growth and their
competition with the main crop. The farmers of Kalita community use cowdung
and other biofertilizers in their field, which might have enhanced the soil organic
matter. They also cultivated N 2 -fixing plants like Cajanus cajan, Erythrina indica
and Bauhinia variegata mostly in their agricultural field. The farmers of the tribal
community are more aware about the management of the system and able to grow
more fruit trees than other agroforestry systems. It was also observed that the nursery
raising plot of Oryza sativa is used for pulses cultivation as the area is considered no
more suitable for paddy cultivation for 1–2 years. Pruning and weeding is done and
mulches are used properly in the field they believe mulching increases soil fertility.
Cleaning and weeding also done two or three times in a year in some agroforestry
field depending on the ground vegetation. In many places of Northeast India, it is
observed that community after harvesting sugarcane plant, the field is kept as such
for one year for regeneration of the same plant from its rhizome. The residue of
sugarcane is burnt in the field itself which is considered good for soil health. They
feel that burning of the plant residue will destroy all earlier years pathogens from the
field, whereas others feel that burning contributes more nutrients to the soil. Faecal
matter of poultry and piggery is used for agroforestry field as well as in fish pond
in animal based agroforestry systems. Faecal matter of goat is specifically used as
fertilizer for Cucurbita and Pumpkin plant. No chemicals applied as the farmers
believed that such chemicals deteriorate the soil and unsuitable for betel leaf husbandry. Few plants are used in slope land like cashewnut, pineapple, bamboo, etc.
Hill variety of Sugarcane is also used for sloppy land. In Nyishi community farmers
prefer to cultivate timber-yielding plants that may have more coarse roots in their
field, and they are less aware of biofertilizer application. Poor management practices
such as frequent burning and cutting, grazing by animals was also observed in this
field. The ashes collected after cooking are also used in the field and on the leaf of
brinjal and Cucurbita plant as pesticides. It is observed that the in general fruits are
preferred by non tribal community whereas timbers by tribal community. However,
the diversity of these traditional agroforestry systems are decreasing day by day due
to shortage of land and lacking of traditional knowledge by the younger generation.
Therefore, some management approach is required for careful planning on the basis
of valuable information, implementation, associated research, monitoring systematic