We have a lot of articles from India in this issue. These articles provide interesting research results, insights and recommendations that may be useful to agroforestry practitioners in other countries.
One article discusses how Acacia tortilis and Leucaena leucocephala, when planted in the right row directions, can improve the soil fertility in a groundnut-wheat farm. Another article investigates the various alley and companion crops, including medicinal and aromatic crops, which can be successfully integrated into agroforestry farms in the alluvial plains of India. These crops have increased the incomes of farmers from the sale of fodder, fuelwood, timber, fruits, medicines, dye and other diverse products that they provide.
Another article describes how agroforestry has helped rejuvenate saline-affected wastelands in India. The proper combination of suitable fuelwood/fodder/timber species, fruit tree species and saline irrigation helped reduce surface-level salts and improve soil fertility in saline soils.
Another article provides an overview of the various considerations before integrating exotic trees into Indian agroforestry. These considerations include the trees' capability to be efficient and effective suppliers of food, fodder, fuelwood, and how they can complement the other crops in the farm.
Marketability and maintenance requirements are also cited as important considerations. As we all know, these considerations not only apply in India, but also in other countries.
An article on Silver oak, with inspiring photographs, describes how this tree can be successfully integrated as a shade tree in tea plantations as it complements and does not compete with tea plants in terms of nutrients and soil moisture. The article further describes how Silver oak helps improve soil fertility and increases the supply of micronutrients through its leaf litter, annual loppings, stemflow and throughfall. It also helps in carbon sequestration and minimizes the application of fertilizers. Insights from this article are particularly relevant considering the increasing demand for tea as people worldwide are now becoming more health-conscious.
Also in this issue is an article that discusses the economic potential of integrating resin production in an agroforestry system in Indonesia. This does not only help increase resin supply to meet the increasing demand in the United States and Japan, but also helps increase the income of farmers.
These articles attest that agroforestry is a science and practice distinct from the fields of agriculture and forestry. Several countries, including the Philippines, are still debating on how different agroforestry is and if it could be considered a separate field of study from agriculture and forestry. Although it may take a while for others to realize it, we nevertheless hope that through APANews, we can help establish agroforestry as a unique science and practice.
You may have noticed some changes in this issue. Aside from a slightly different layout, we have renamed the publications section to information sources. We think the new name fits the numerous books, publications and multimedia materials that are now available as useful references to agroforestry practitioners. Expect more improvements in our succeeding issues.
Again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to those who sent in articles for this issue and we look forward to more of your contributions. Let us continue our quest for sustainable resource management through agroforestry.
- The Editors
