This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
0 mins Read
One of the bases for establishing sustainable farming systems is to integrate nitrogen-fixing plants into the system, whether in the form of crop rotation or as perennial plants. In mountain areas, the most common farming approach is to use a mixed crop livestock agroforestry system. This can be made considerably more successful if nitrogen-fixing plants (NFPs), especially those that occur naturally in the environment, are deliberately incorporated into the system. NFPs are one of the cheapest and best sources of organic manure, they add nitrogen to the soil through the action of the microbes or microorganisms in their specialized root nodules and through the decay of their nitrogen-rich foliage. Generally, NFPs do not require extra fertilizer for growth; they are often pioneer species on degraded land and can be an important source of cash crops. Nitrogen-fixing herb, shrub, and tree species can be used to maintain soil fertility in agroforestry systems, to increase forest productivity, and to improve soils at degraded and eroded sites prior to introduction of other species. Both uses are demonstrated at the Knowledge Part at Godavari.
Biogas is potentially one of the most economical sources of energy for mountain farmers. In China, the Shenzhen Puxin Science ...
Research and vegetation management on the site is not confined to trees and bushes. A focused effort is being made ...
A plant nursery was established in the lower area of the site to ensure an adequate ...
The benefits of mulching? Mulch is a covering, using straw, compost, or plastic sheeting, spread on the ground around plants ...
Soil erosion, soil degradation and declining soil fertility are widely regarded as major problems threatening the sustainable use ...
Developing realistic opportunities for income generation is one of the most challenging tasks of development in mountain areas ...
An inventory of carbon monitoring plots was conducted in May 2012 to establish a mechanism for long-term monitoring of forest ...
ICIMOD has a number of ongoing activities in biodiversity conservation. At the Knowledge Park at Godavari, the emphasis ...