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Land use options on a semi-arid Alfisol

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

S.K. Das
Affiliation:
Principal Soil Scientist (Soil Chemistry/Fertility), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
Shriniwas Sharma
Affiliation:
Principal Scientist (Soil and Water Conservation), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
K.L. Sharma
Affiliation:
Scientist (Soil Chemistry/Fertility), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
Neelam Saharan
Affiliation:
Scientist (Agricultural Chemistry), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
N.N. Nimbole
Affiliation:
Scientist Selection Grade (Agronomy), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
Y.V.R. Reddy
Affiliation:
Principal Scientist (Agricultural Economics), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500 639, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Abstract

Four land use options—annual cropping, agroforestry, agrihorticulture, and agrosilviculture—were tried on a Land Capability Class IVs Alfisol under rainfed conditions to find a farming system that would be profitable and sustainable. The agrihorticultural system required more cash input but gave a value/cost ratio of 2.16 compared with 1.95 with annual cropping, 1.69 with agroforestry and 1.52 with agrosilviculture. Runoff was 4.9% in the agrihorticultural system, and 10.6% with agroforesty. Economic and soil health considerations led to the conclusion that the agrihorticultural system would be a sustainable land use option for the semi-arid Alfisol However, other options also are profitable, with value/cost ratios of more than 1.50. Therefore, land users can choose among several systems, depending on their desired production level and their investment capacity.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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