Agroforestry practices in Manipur combine tree cultivation with agriculture, crop rotation, and livestock integration.
Tree cultivation with agriculture is the practice of growing trees and crops together. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as intercropping, alley cropping, and silvopasture. Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops together in the same field. Alley cropping is the practice of growing trees in rows with crops grown in the alleys between the rows. Silvopasture is the practice of grazing livestock in a forest.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops in the same field in a planned sequence. This helps to improve soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
Livestock integration is the practice of raising livestock in conjunction with agriculture. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as grazing livestock in fields, feeding livestock crop residues, and using livestock manure to fertilize crops.
All of these practices can help to improve the productivity of land, reduce the risk of pests and diseases, and improve the sustainability of agriculture.
Here are some additional details about each of these practices:
- Tree cultivation with agriculture can help to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and provide shade and windbreaks for crops.
- Crop rotation can help to improve soil fertility, reduce the risk of pests and diseases, and improve the efficiency of fertilizer use.
- Livestock integration can help to improve soil fertility, provide manure for fertilizer, and control pests.
These practices can be used together or in isolation to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.