“PREPARING AND MANAGEMENT OF RESULT ORIENTED RESEARCH PROJECTS ON HORTIPASTORAL SYSTEMS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”

1. Dr. Suheel Ahmad
Sr. Scientist and Officer In Charge,
ICAR-IGFRI, Regional Research Station,
Srinagar
Mob. No. 09419018157, 7006929670
Email: suhail114@gmail.com
“PREPARING AND MANAGEMENT OF RESULT ORIENTED
RESEARCH PROJECTS ON HORTIPASTORAL SYSTEMS:
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”

2. Presentation Outline
Introduction
Area under agroforestry in the world
Area under agroforestry in India
Agroforestry and Forage Production
• National Scenario
Hortipasture system
Forage production and Ecosystem services
Constraints
Future Prospects
Conclusions

3. AGROFORESTRY: Definition
“Agroforestry is a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees,
shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops
and/or animals, in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence. In agroforestry systems, there are
both ecological and economical interactions between the different components”
(Lundgren and Raintree, 1982)
“Agroforestry is a dynamic, ecological based, natural resource management system that through the
integration of tress on farms and in agricultural (landscape) diversifies and sustains produce for increased
social, economic, and environmental benefits for all land users at all levels’’
(Leaky, 1997)
An international terminology for grazing lands and grazing animals defines agroforestry as, “Land-use
system in which trees are used for forest products (e.g. timber, pulp, fruits, rubber, syrup and browse)
combined with agricultural crops including forage crops and/or animal production.”
(Allen et al., 2011)
Several other definitions are also available. In essence, they all refer to the practice of the purposeful growing of trees
and crops, and/or animals, in interacting combinations, for a variety of benefits and services (Nair et al.,2008).

4.  A principal aim of agroforestry is to create interactions between woody perennials, herbaceous crops
or pastures, and their biotic and abiotic environments which increase the overall productivity and
efficiency of the land use system and its sustainability.
(Schroth, 1995)
A sustainable system is:
One that, over the long term, enhances environmental quality and the resource base on
which agriculture depends: provides for basic human food and fiber needs, is economically
viable; and enhances the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole
(American Society of Agronomy, 1989).
General strategies for designing sustainable agricultural systems include:
Introduction

5. Nair et al., 2009
Area under agroforestry in the world

6. The current approximate area
under agroforestry is estimated
to be 25.32 m ha, or 8.2%
of the total geographical area
of the country according to
Dhyani et al., 2014.
Based on data from CAFRI,
Jhansi, the area under
agroforestry is 13.75 m ha
(Rizvi et al., 2014)
However, Forest Survey of
India (FSI; 2013) estimated the
same as 11.54 m ha, which is
3.39% of the geographical
area of the country14.
Maharashtra, Gujarat and
Rajasthan rank high in state-
wise area under agroforestry.
Agroforestry area (m ha) in India (CAFRI, Jhansi and
FSI, Dehradun).
Area under agroforestry in India

7. Agroforestry, livestock-keeping and the interactions between these practices
are crucial for the livelihoods of rural communities.
(Garrity 2004, McDermott et al. 2010)
Agroforestry practices are increasingly important as access to tree resources
from natural forests and woodlands is lost through deforestation due to
agricultural expansion.
(FAO, 2010)
Forage-based agroforestry systems have been shown to be more compatible than
grain crop-based alley-cropping systems, due to the shading from mature tree species
having a greater impact on grain crops compared to forages.
(Garrett and Kurtz 1983; Gillespie 1996).
AGROFORESTRY FOR FORAGE PRODUCTION
National scenario

8. The limited land endowments make it difficult for the farmer to earmark adequate land for fodder
cultivation.
(Anonymous, 2012; Wani et al., 2014)
With the increase in livestock population and matching human population in the state, the
pressure on grazing lands and pastures has increased.
At the same time, livestock production must deal with the increased competition between human food
and animal feed, and the greater demand for animal products globally and the resulting
environmental impacts, as human populations increase and their dietary preferences change.
(Delgado, et al., 1999, Cassidy, et al., 2013)
 The possibility of increased forage production by bringing additional area under fodder cultivation
are limited and it is therefore, imperative that continuous efforts are made to augment forage
resource availability through alternate land use systems.
 The livestock sector in India contributes nearly 32% of total agricultural output. India with 2.3%
share of global geographical area supports nearly 20% of the livestock population of the World,
notably among them are cattle (16%), buffalo (55%), goat (20%) and sheep (5%).
(Anonymous, 2011)

9.  It is also recognized that agroforestry is perhaps the only alternative to meeting the
target of increasing forest or tree cover to 33 per cent from the present level of less than
25 per cent, as envisaged in the National Forest Policy (1988).
 A major role for agroforestry is emerging in the domain of environmental services.
Agroforestry is known to have the potential to mitigate the climate change effects
through microclimate moderation and natural resources conservation in the short run
and through carbon sequestration in the long run. Agroforestry species are known to
sequester as much carbon in below ground biomass as the primary forests, and far
greater than the crop and grass systems.

10. National Forest Policy, 1988
BASIC OBJECTIVES
 Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social
forestry programmes, especially on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands.
 Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and
tribal populations.
ESSENTIALS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
3.4 Provision of sufficient fodder, fuel and pasture, specially in areas adjoining forest, is necessary in
order to prevent depletion of forests beyond the sustainable limit. Since fuelwood continues to be the
predominant source of energy in rural areas, the programme of afforestation should be intensified with
special emphasis on augmenting fuelwood production to meet the requirement of the rural people.
STRATEGY
4.2.1 A massive need-based and time bound programme of afforestation and tree planting, with
particular emphasis on fuelwood and fodder development, on all degraded and denuded lands in the
country, whether forest or non-forest land, is a national imperative.
4.2.3 Village and community lands, including those on foreshores and environs of tanks, not required for
other productive uses, should be taken up for the development of tree crops and fodder resources.
4.2.4 Land laws should be so modified wherever necessary so as to facilitate and motivate individuals
and institutions to undertake tree-farming and grow fodder plants, grasses and legumes on their own
land.

11. National Agroforestry Policy, 2014
Encourage and expand tree plantation in complementarity and integrated manner with crops
and livestock to improve productivity, employment, income and livelihoods of rural
households, especially the small holder farmers.
National Livestock Policy, 2013
Report of the Sub Group III on
Fodder and Pasture Management, 2011

12. Hortipasture system
Scope exists in introduction of fodder crops as
inter-crop in orchards (Wani et al., 2014) which
has by and large remained untapped for fodder
development.
The utilisation of these orchards can give a big
boost to livestock development.
Hortipastoral system involving integration of fruit
trees with pasture (grass and/or legume) could
be adopted with suitable techniques to augment
forage resource availability (Sharma, 2004;
Kumar and Chaubey, 2008; Khan and Kumar,
2009).
Under the programme it is envisaged to
introduce high yielding temperate perennial
grasses and legumes in phased manner to
cover the available orchard land.

13. Plate 1. Photographs showing different apple based agroforestry systems at ICAR-CITH experimental farm, India.
White clover + Apple (A), Tall fescue + Apple (B), Orchard grass + Apple (C), Harvesting of forages under cut and
carry system (D), Tall fescue + red clover + Apple (E) and Control plot without grasses/legumes (F).
A B
C D
E F

14.  Horticulture based production systems are considered to be the most ideal strategy to
provide food, nutrition and income security to the people
(Chundawat 1993; Chadha 2002: NHB, 2014)
 Managing fruit orchards involves both the management of the orchard trees, and the orchard
floor.
 Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield and fruit quality.
 Standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation free tree row and a grass-
covered alleyway. This system effectively controls weeds and creates a favourable
environment for the fruit trees.
(Dabney et al., 2001;Merwin, 2004)
Tradeoffs and synergies between
Horticulture and Livestock sector

15.  Adequate availability of quality fodder is essential for enhancing livestock productivity.
(GOI 2007)
 Livestock wealth is more equitably distributed than that of land.
(Kumar and Singh, 2008)
 Being an important source of income and employment for weaker section of society, the livestock
helps in alleviating poverty and smoothening of income distribution.
(Birthal et al., 2002)
 Livestock is important both as savings and investments for the poor household and provides security
or insurance through multiple ways in different production systems.
(Kitalyi et al., 2005)
 In view of the rich interaction between crop and livestock, it is being increasingly realized that
integrating livestock in a system approach would arrest the sustainability concerns, which are the keys
to country’s food security.
(Sere and Steinfeld, 1996; Hann et al., 1997; Patel, 1993; Singh et al., 2005)
Livestock as drivers of socio-economic upliftment

16. The livestock sector (including intensive production) already represents around a third of agricultural GDP in
most countries.
World Bank 2008
In the past three decades, production and consumption of livestock products in developing
countries has grown at 3-5% p.a..
FAO 2009
By 2050, total meat and milk consumption in developing countries is expected to at least double.
FAO 2006
These trends present both opportunities and challenges for livestock production

18. Treatments GFY (t/ha)
DFY
(t/ha)
CPY
(t/ha)
Apple
leaf
yield
(t/ha)
Pruned
wood
Biomass
Yield
(t/ha)
Fruit
Yield
(kg/tre
e)
T1: White clover+Apple 14.77 5.28 1.27 2.40 2.84 33.65
T2: Red clover+ Apple
19.47 6.33 1.37 2.42 2.90 34.33
T3: Tall fescue+ Apple
24.42 8.02 0.84 1.96 2.84 27.45
T4: Orchard grass+ Apple 22.32 7.39 0.77 1.94 2.90 28.27
T5: Tall fescue + white clover+ Apple
24.35 9.38 1.60 1.99 2.84 30.96
T6: Tall fescue + red clover+ Apple
29.47 10.72 1.63 2.06 2.81 30.63
T7: Orchard grass + white clover+
Apple 23.93 8.03 1.27 2.05 2.78 30.56
T8: Orchard grass + red clover+ Apple
26.72 9.13 1.31 2.03 2.84 30.65
T9: Control (Clean cultivation) 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.97 2.72 26.93
CD0.05 0.91 0.24 0.02 0.01 NS 0.16
Effect of various forage intercrops on diversification of
outputs

19. Rainfall (mm)
Zones
Fruit crops (cultivars) Forage crops
< 350 Zizyphus mauritiana (Seb, Gola, Mundia)
Capparis decidua, Salvoda oleides, Cordia myxa
Cenchrus ciliaris, Cenchrus setigerus,
Sehima nervosum, Stylosanthus scabra,
Clitorea ternatea
350-500 Zizyphus mauritiana (Seb, Gola, Mundia, Bagwadi,
Katha), Emblica officinalis (Banarsi, Chakaiya,
Hathijhool), Morus alba, Syzigium cuminii, Manilkara
hexandra
Panicum antidotale, Dicanthium
annulatum, Stylosanthus hamata,
Pennisetum pedicellatum
500-700 Aegle marmelos (Faizabad selection), Emblica
officinalis, Mangifera indica (Chausa, local cultivars,
Safeda, Bombay green), Citrus aurantifolia, Annona
squamosa (Balanagar, Washington, Mammoth)
Chloris gayana, Chrysopogon fulvus,
Stylosanthus hamata, Panicum maximum
>700 Mangifera indica, Punica granatum (Jodhpur red,
Jailor seedless), Psidium guajava (Allahabad safeda, L-
49), Tamarindus indica, Emblica officinalis (NA-6.,
NA-7)
Dicanthium annulatum, Panicum
maximum, BN hybrid
Suitable fruit and fodder crops for different rainfall regimes (tropical and subtropical regions)

20. Suitable fruit and forage crops for different zones in North western Himalayan region
Zone Fruit crops Forage grasses Forage legumes
Temperate zone Apple, Almond, Pear,
Cherry, Walnut and
Apricot
Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea,
Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Bromus
unioloides, Phalaris spp., Poa pratensis,
Lolium multiflorum
Trifolium pratense, T. repens,
Onobrychis viciifolia, Medicago
sativa, Trifolium alexandrinum,
Lotus corniculatus,
Intermediate zone Peach, Plum, Apricot,
Olive and pomegranate
Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea,
Lolium perenne, Dicanthium annulatum,
Chloris gayana, Chrysopogon fulvus,
Heteropogon contortus, Setaria spp., Avena
sativa
Trifolium alexandrinum,
Stylosanthus hamata, Macroptelium
atropurpreum,
Sub-tropical zone Mango, Citrus, Ber,
Aonla
Dicanthium annulatum, Chloris gayana,
Chrysopogon fulvus, Heteropogon
contortus, Cenchrus ciliaris, C. setigerus,
Paspalum notatum, Avena sativa
Trifolium alexandrinum,
Stylosanthus hamata,
Cold arid zone Apricot, Apple Festuca arundinacea, Avena sativa,
Phalaris spp., Dactylis glomerata,
Medicago sativa, Medicago falcata,
Astragalus spp., Caragana spp.,
Melilotus officinalis, Cicer
microphyllum

21. Ecosystem services from hortipastoral systems
Provisioning services Regulating services Supporting services Cultural services
Diversified output in the
form of fruits, fodder,
livestock products,
fuelwood. Genetic
resources, biochar etc
Pest, disease and climate
regulation (mitigation of
greenhouse gas
emissions), pollination,
water quality, erosion
control etc
Nutrient cycling, soil
fertility, carbon capture
and storage (soil
carbon sequestration),
Biological nitrogen
fixation through
legumes, weed
suppression etc
Recreation and
aesthetic values,
spiritual and religious
values, knowledge
system, education and
inspiration, social
prestige etc

22. EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Gas Pre- A.D
1750
troposphe
ric conc
Recent
troposphe
ric conc.
Percentag
e increase
since A.D
1750
CO2
280 ppm 400.16 ppm 41.2 %
CH4
700 ppb 1842 ppb 170.4 %
N2O 270 ppb 327 ppb 20.7 %
(IPCC, 2014)

23. Why use grasses/legumes
as cover crops?
 Cover crops are an important fertility management tool
available to farmers
 Grown primarily for soil or ecosystem improvement
rather than cash
 Perennial in nature

24. Goal: Increase nutrient availability
 Cover crops can increase nutrient availability by:
 residue breakdown - releases nutrients into soil solution or incorporated
in
soil microbes.
 As a source of readily available C cover crops stimulate microbial activity
and increase the breakdown of soil OM.
 If cover crop is deeper rooted than preceding crops it can recycle
nutrients from deeper in the soil and return them to the upper soil when
residue is incorporated
 Cover crops rather than bare fallow reduce nutrient loss by capturing
nutrients vulnerable to leaching and preventing soil erosion.

25. Goal: Increase SOM and improve nutrient
availability
Tobuild SOM look for a high biomass cover crop.
 Possible options for fall planting include non-legumes such as:
 annual rye grass, cereal rye, triticale, legume/cereal mix,
 Highbiomass legumes provide Nand buildSOM:
 sub-clover or woollypod vetch
 For summer planting options include:
 sorghum/sudan grass, buckwheat
 tropical legumes:
 cowpea, crotolaria, pigeon pea, lablab bean,sesbania

26. Table: Effect of grass/legume combinations on soil physicochemical properties
Treatments
Bulk density (g/cm3) Organic carbon (%)
2016 2017 Pooled 2016 2017 Pooled
T1: White clover 1.26 1.23 1.25 0.71 0.83 0.77
T2: Red clover 1.27 1.24 1.26 0.70 0.83 0.77
T3: Tall fescue 1.24 1.23 1.24 0.64 0.68 0.66
T4: Orchard grass
1.25 1.24 1.25 0.65 0.68 0.66
T5: Tall fescue + white clover
1.28 1.25 1.27 0.68 0.74 0.71
T6: Tall fescue + red clover
1.26 1.24 1.25 0.69 0.75 0.72
T7: Orchard grass + white clover
1.27 1.25 1.26 0.68 0.74 0.71
T8: Orchard grass + red clover
1.26 1.25 1.26 0.68 0.75 0.71
T9: White clover+Apple
1.26 1.23 1.25 0.75 0.89 0.82
T10: Red clover+ Apple
1.25 1.22 1.24 0.76 0.92 0.84
T11: Tall fescue+ Apple
1.24 1.23 1.24 0.70 0.71 0.71
T12: Orchard grass+ Apple 1.26 1.24 1.25 0.69 0.72 0.71
T13: Tall fescue + white clover+
Apple 1.25 1.23 1.24 0.71 0.80 0.76
T14: Tall fescue + red clover+
Apple 1.24 1.23 1.24 0.72 0.80 0.76
T15: Orchard grass + white
clover+
Apple
1.26 1.23 1.25 0.72 0.79 0.76
T16: Orchard grass + red clover+
Apple 1.25 1.23 1.24 0.73 0.80 0.77
T17: Control (Clean cultivation)
1.24 1.24 1.24 0.69 0.66 0.68
Sed 0.0002 0.005 0.005 0.01 0.005 0.01
CD0.05 NS 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.03

27. Constraints and Challenges
 Lack of awareness about the short and long term benefits of agroforestry among the farmers and other
stake holders.
 Quality planting materials (seeds, seedlings and/or saplings) are not generally available.
 Agroforestry technologies are highly location and region specific.
 Hortipastures can be highly productive but are complex to design and manage due to the dynamics of
the tree-forage-animal interface.
 Inadequate financial support from the Government.
 Insufficient research, extension and capacity building
 Lack of a National Agroforestry Mission or an Agroforestry Board to implement the National Policy by
bringing coordination, convergence and synergy among various elements of agroforestry scattered in
various existing, missions, programmes, schemes and agencies pertaining to agriculture, environment,
forestry, and rural development sectors of the Government.

28. FUTURE THRUST
Designing suitable hortipasture systems for different land use types and agroclimatic
regions.
Crop/pasture species (grasses and/or legumes) identification for forage resource
enhancement.
Setting up of Fodder Development board both at central level and state level on the
lines of NDDB, NMPB, NHB
Development of guidelines for managing animal, forage, and fruit tree crops will
require greater knowledge regarding three-way interactions.