College of Agriculture Powarkheda , Hoshangabad

Lecture No.
FARMING SYSTEM
1.1 What is a System?
A system is a group of interacting components, operating together for a common purpose,
capable of reacting as a whole to external stimuli: it is unaffected directly by its own outputs and
has a specified boundary based on the inclusion of all significant feedbacks. For example, the
human body is a system-it has a boundary (e.g., the skin) enclosing a number of components
(heart, lungs) that interact (the heart pumps blood to the lungs) for a common purpose (to
maintain and operate the living body). Collection of unrelated items does not constitute a system.
A bag of marbles is not a system: if a marble is added or subtracted, a bag of marbles remains
and may be almost completely unaffected by the change. The marbles only behave as a whole if
the whole bag is influenced, for example by dropping it, but if it bursts the constituent parts go
their own ways. It is the properties of the system that chiefly matter and they may be summarized
in the phrase ‘behavior as a whole in response to stimuli to any part’.

1.2 Systems approach

In system approach all the components and activities are linked, they affect each other. It is not
sensible to look at one component by itself without recognizing that what it does and what
happens to it will affect other parts of the system. For example consider what happens when you
stub your toe: the whole body may react and different parts may respond differently. Eyes may
water, the voice may make appropriate sounds, the pulse rate may increase and hands may try to
rub the damaged toe. It would be very rash to alter any component of a system without regard to
the consequences and reactions elsewhere. You cannot, for example, improve a car (system) by
doing research on one wheel and then making it rather bigger than the rest. Or increase the power
and size of the engine without regard to the ability of the chassis to support it.

These things are common sense in such familiar contexts- they also apply to biological
and agricultural systems. In agriculture, management practices were usually formulated for
individual corp. However, farmers are cultivating different crops in different seasons based on
their adaptability to a particular season, domestic needs and profitability. Therefore, production
technology or management practices should be developed in view all the crops grown in a year
or more than one than one year if any sequence or rotation extends beyond one year. Such a
package of management practices for all crops leads to efficient use of costly inputs, besides
reduction in production cost. For instance, residual effect of manures and fertilizers applied and
nitrogen fixed can considerably bring down the production cost if all the crops are considered
than individual crops.

1.3 Farming system

Farming system is a complex inter-related matrix of soil, plants, animals implements, power,
labour, capital and other inputs controlled in part by farm families and influenced by varying

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degrees of political, economic, institutional and social forces that operate at many levels. In other
words it is defined as unique and reasonably stable arrangement of farm enterprises that the
household manages according to its physical, biological, economic and socio-cultural
environment in accordance with the household’s goals, preferences and resources. Conceptually
it refers to a set of elements or components that are interrelated which interact among
themselves. At the center of the interaction is the farmer exercising control and choice regarding
the type and result of interaction. It is a resource management strategy to achieve economic and
sustained production to meet diverse requirement of farm household while preserving resource
base and maintaining a high level of environmental quality. For example it represents integration
of farm enterprises such as cropping systems, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, sericulture,
poultry etc for optimal utilization of resources bringing prosperity to the farmer. The farm
products other than the economic products, for which the crops are grown, can be better utilized
for productive purposes in the farming systems approach.

1.4 Farming systems concept

In farming system, the farm is viewed in a holistic manner. Farming enterprises include crops,
dairying, poultry, fishery, sericulture, piggery, apiary tree crops etc. a combination of one or
more enterprises with cropping when carefully chosen, planned and executed, gives greater
dividends than a single enterprise, especially for small and marginal farmers. Farm as a unit is to
be considered and planned for effective integration of the enterprises to be combined with crop
production activity, such that the end-products and wastes of one enterprise are utilized
effectively as inputs in other enterprise. For example the wastes of dairying viz., dung, urine,
refuse etc are used in preparation of FYM or compost which serves as an input in cropping
system. Likewise the straw obtained from crops (maize, rice, sorghum etc) is used as a fodder for
dairy cattle.

Further, in sericulture the leaves of mulberry crop as a feeding material for silkworms,
grain from maize crop are used as a feed in poultry etc. Sustainability is the objective of the
farming system where production process is optimized through efficient utilization of inputs
without infringing on the quality of environment with which it interacts on one hand and attempt
to meet the national goals on the other. The concept has an undefined time dimension. The
magnitude of time dimension depends upon ones objectives, being shorter for economic gains
and longer for concerns pertaining to environment, soil productivity and land degradation.

1.5 Principles of farming system

• Minimization of risk
• Recycling of wastes and residues
• Integration of two or more enterprises
• Optimum utilization of all resources
• Maximum productivity and profitability
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• Ecological balance
• Generation of employment potential
• Increased input use efficiency
• Use of end products from one enterprise as input in other enterprise

1.6 Characteristics of farming system

1. Farmer oriented & holistic approach
2. Effective farmers participation
3. Unique problem solving system
4. Dynamic system
5. Gender sensitive
6. Responsible to society
7. Environmental sustainability
8. Location specificity of technology
9. Diversified farming enterprises to avoid risks due to environmental constraints
10. Provides feedback from farmers

1.7 Objectives of farming system

1. Productivity- Farming system provides on opportunity to increase economic yield per unit
area per unit time by virtue of intensification of crop and allied enterprises. Time concept by
crop intensification and space concept by building up of vertical dimension through crops and
allied enterprises.
2. Profitability - The system as a whole provides an opportunity to make use of produce/waste
material of one enterprise as an input in another enterprise at low/no cost. Thus by reducing the
cost of production the profitability and benefit cost ratio works out to be high.
3. Potentiality – Soil health, a key factor for sustainability is getting deteriorated and polluted
due to faulty agricultural management practices viz., excessive use of inorganic fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides, high intensity irrigation etc. In farming system, organic supplementation
through effective use of manures and waste recycling is done, thus providing an opportunity to
sustain potentiality of production base for much longer time.
4. Balanced food- In farming system, diverse enterprises are involved and they produce different
sources of nutrition namely proteins, carbohydrates, fats & minerals etc form the same unit land,
which helps in solving the malnutrition problem prevalent among the marginal and sub-marginal
farming households.
5. Environmental safety- The very nature of farming system is to make use or conserve the
byproduct/waste product of one component as input in another component and use of bio-control
measures for pest & disease control. These eco-friendly practices bring down the application of
huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, which pollute the soil water and
environment to an alarming level. Whereas IFS will greatly reduces environmental pollution.

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6. Income/cash flow round the year- Unlike conventional single enterprise crop activity where
the income is expected only at the time of disposal of economic produce after several months
depending upon the duration of the crop, the IFS enables cash flow round the year by way of sale
of products from different enterprises viz., eggs from poultry, milk from dairy, fish from
fisheries, silkworm cocoons from sericulture, honey from apiculture etc. This not only enhances
the purchasing power of the farmer but also provides an opportunity to invest in improved
technologies for enhanced production.
7. Saving energy- Availability of fossil fuel has been declining at a rapid rate leading to a
situation wherein the whole world may suffer for want of fossil fuel by 2030 AD. In farming
system, effective recycling of organic wastes to generate energy from biogas plants can mitigate
to certain extent this energy crisis.
8. Meeting fodder crises- In IFS every inch of land area is effectively utilized. Alley cropping
or growing fodder legume along the border or water courses, intensification of cropping
including fodder legumes in cropping systems helps to produce the required fodder and greatly
relieve the problem of non-availability of fodder to livestock component of the farming system.
9. Solving timber and fuel crises- The current production level of 20 million m3 of fuel wood
and 11 million m3 of timber wood is no match for the demand estimated or 360 m3 of fuel and
64,4 million m3 of timber wood in 2000 AD. Hence the current production needs to be stepped
up several-fold. Afforestation programmes besides introduction of agro-forestry component in
farming system without detrimental effect on crop yield will greatly reduce deforestation,
preserving our natural ecosystem.
10. Employment generation- Various farm enterprises viz., crop +livestock or any other allied
enterprise in the farming system would increase labour requirement significantly and would help
solve the problem of under employment. An IFS provides enough scope to employ family labour
round the year.
11. Scope for establishment of agro- industries- When once the produce from different
components in IFS is increased to a commercial level there will be surplus for value addition in
the region leading to the establishment of agro-industries.
12. Enhancement in input use efficiency – An IFS provides good scope for resource utilization
in different components leading to greater input use efficiency and benefit- cost ratio.

13. Mixed farming: It is defined as a system of farming on a particular farm (regardless of size)
which includes crop production, raising of livestock, poultry, fish and bee keeping, and/or tress
to sustain and satisfy as many necessities of the owner (farmer) as is possible. Subsistence is the
objective here. It is based on the principle of give and take. Farm animals feed on farm produce
and in return manure is given to the crops.

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(DAIRYING AND SHEEP & GOAT REARING)
In an integrated farming system, it is always emphasized to combine cropping with other
enterprises/activities. Many enterprises are available and these primarily include dairying, sheep
& goat rearing, poultry, fisheries, sericulture, bee keeping etc. Any one or more can be combined
with the cropping system.

13.1 Significance or integrating crops and livestock

Animals can perform numerous functions in smallholder systems. They provide products such as
meat, milk eggs, wool etc. They serve socio-cultural functions, as bride wealth, for ceremonial
feasts, and as gifts or loans, which strengthen social bonds. Integration of livestock into the
farming system is particularly important for:
• Increasing subsistence security by diversifying the food generating activities of the farm family
• Transferring nutrient and energy between animals and crops via manure and forage from
cropped areas via use of draught animals Diversification into livestock keeping expends the risk
reduction strategies of farmers beyond multiple cropping and thus increases the economic
stability of the farming system. Livestock can enhance farm productivity by intensifying nutrient
and energy cycles. Stubble in the fields and crop residues are important sources of forage in
smallholder systems. Lower mature leaves stripped from standing crops, plants thinned from
cereal stands and vegetation on fallow fields offer addional fodder resources related to food
cropping. When animals consume vegetation and produce dung, nutrients are recycled more
quickly than when the vegetation decays naturally.

Grazing livestock transfer nutrients from range to cropland and concentrate them on selected
areas of the farm. Integrating agro-forestry and fodder production into crop rotations can enhance
the sustainability of a farming system, particularly to the extent that perennial grasses and
legumes, including shrubs and trees are involved. These may use nutrient and water from deeper
soil fertility and protect the soil during periods when arable crops are not grown. Forage crops
can play an important role in nutrient transfer also within the farm by providing better quality
dung, which can be used as manure for crops. Part of the forage crop can also be used as green
manure or mulch.
Trees solve the problem of fuel and fodder requirement. When animals are used for traction,
some of the energy gained from grazing wasteland and temporarily uncultivated land can be
exploited for crop production. Animals power can also be used to process farm products e.g, for
threshing, and for transporting them from the fields to storage or market.

13.2 Dairying
Dairy farming is one of the economically viable enterprises that could provide constant income
throughout the year to farmers when combined with cropping. The success of dairying depends
solely on the availability of inputs like feed and fodder and better marketing facilities to milk. To

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maximize benefits from dairying selection of proper breed to suit the local conditions is very
essential. The dairy cattle are broadly classified into the following 5 groups.

1. Draft breeds: The bullocks of these breeds are good draft animals, but the cows are poor
milkers e.g, Nagore, Hallikar Kangeyam, Mali.
2. Dairy breeds: The cows are high milk yielders and the bullocks are with good draft work
capacity e.g., Sahiwal, Sindhi, Gir.
3. Dual Purpose: The cows are fairly good milkers and the bullocks are with good draft work
capacity e.g., Hariana, Ongole and Kankerj.
4. Exotic breeds: The exotic breeds are high milk yeilders, e.g., Jersey, Holstein-Friesian,
Aryshire, Brown Swiss and Guernsey
5. Buffaloes: Important dairy breeds of buffalo are Murrah, Nili Ravi (Which has its home tract
in Pakistan, Mehsana, Suti, Zafarabadi, Godavari and Bhadwari. Of these Godavari has been
evolved through crossing local buffaloes in coastal reins of Andhra Pradesh with Murrah.
• Jersey crossbred cows come up very well in most of the climatic conditons, consume less feed
and fodder, give more milk with high fat content and possess comparatively better disease
resistance.
• Holstein-Friesian could be reared for higher milk yield in places of cooler climate as they lack
heat tolerance
• Buffaloes like Murrah could also be reared for milk production in semi-arid and arid regions,
since they can digest more percentage of roughage than cows and thrive well on dry fodder.

13.4 Sheep and goat rearing

Rearing sheep and goat is one of the important common livestock enterprises followed by small
and marginal farm families and landless labourers in drought prone, hilly and desert areas. Goat
farming needs less capital when compared to dairying, and the animals can be raised in small
farms as well. This enterprise provides employment opportunities round the year for the farm
household as well as for the unemployed and under employed rural population and forms one of
the important practicable and profitable components of an integrated farming system. Not much
financial inputs are required but steady income is assured throughout the year. Even with the
poor grazing facilities and with minimum managerial resources sheep and goats can return high
profits to farmers. They not only help the household with regular cash flow but also improve the
health of family members by providing milk and meat regularly.
The sheep and goat have a high adaptability to extreme and different agro-climatic conditions,
disease tolerance giving multiple kids with faster growth rate and excellent marketing facilities.
Small and marginal farmers could easily maintain 20 animals with available fodder in one ha
area. Per capita availability of meat is very poor in India. It is around 6g/person/day as against
57g worldwide. It indicates a tremendous scope for sheep and goat production potential in India.
Goat milk constitutes about 2.4 per cent of the total milk production. Goat milk has excellent

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market value, as it is a scarce commodity for the preparation of many ayurvedic medicines and
for human diet.
Breeds
Goats: Tellicherry, Jamunapari, Barberi, Osmanabadi, Malaberi, Kashmeri, Beetal, Surti,
Gujarati. A few exotic goats such as Saanen, Toggenburg, Angora, Anglo-Nubian, British Alpine
and French Alpine have been found to be well adapted to Indian conditions.
Sheep: Himalayan region – Gurez, Karanah, Bhakarwal; Western region – Bikanari, Marwari,
Kathiawari, Kutchi; Southern region – Deccani, Nellore, Bellary, Mandya & Bandur.

14.1 Poultry farming

Poultry farming is emerging as an important livestock activity in Farming system for enhancing
economic stability, nutrition and providing regular employment and cash flow. Poultry meat
accounts for about 27% of the total meat consumed world wide, and its consumption is growing
at an average of 5% annually. The total egg production in India was worth Rs.5000 crores
(2001). Broiler production is increasing at the rate of 12% per year. Nevertheless the present per
capita consumption is very low, 100g/year. The average global consumption is 120 eggs per
person per year and in India, it is only 32 – 33 eggs per capita per year. As per the nutritional
recommendation, the per capita consumption is estimated at 180 eggs/year and 9 kg meat/year.

Breeds: Specific poultry stocks for egg and broiler production are available. A majority of the
stocks used for egg production are crosses involving the strains or inbred lines of white
Leghorn. Under good management the egg laying potential of these breeds is 280 – 310
eggs/annum. To a limited extent, other breeds like Rhode Island Red, California Grey and
Australop are used. There are many hatcheries in Andhra Pradesh Supplying the strains/inbred
lines of layers and broiler chicks (Table 14.1 & 14.2). Heavy breeds such as white Plymouth
Rock, White Cornish and New Hampshire are used for cross-bred broiler chicken. Hence, it is
essential to consider the strain within the breed at the time of purchase. Several commercial
poultry breeders are selling day old chicks in India. It is best to start with the day old chicks.

14.2 Fisheries
Ponds serve various useful purposes, viz., domestic requirement of water, supplementary
irrigation source to cropping and fisheries. With the traditional management, farmers obtain
hardly 300-400 kg of wild and culture fish per ha annually. However, poly-fish culture with the
stocking density of 7500 fingerlings and supplementary feeding will boost the total biomass
production.
Pond: The depth of the pond should be 1.5-2.0 m. This depth will help for effective
photosynthesis and temperature maintenance for the growth of zooplankton and photosynthesis.
Clay soils have higher water retention capacity and hence are best suited for fish rearing. Pond
water should have appropriate proportion of nutrients, phosphate (0.2-0.4 ppm), nitrate (0.06-
0.1ppm) and dissolved oxygen (5.0-7.0 ppm). Water should be slightly alkaline (pH 7.5-8.5). If

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the pH is less than 6.5, it can be adjusted with the addition of lime at an interval of 2-3days.
Higher pH (>8.5) can be reduced with the addition of gypsum. Application of fresh dung may
also reduce high pH in the water.
Organic manure such as FYM and poultry droppings may also be applied to promote the growth
of phyto and zooplankton. The area allocated for pond in rice – fish – poultry farming system
varies between 10 – 33%.

14.3. Bee keeping (Apiculture)

Bee keeping is one of the most important agro-based industries, which does not require any raw
material from the artisan like other industries. Nectar and pollen from flowers are the raw
materials, which are available in plenty in nature.
Species : There are three species, Apis cerana indica (Indian Bee), Apis dorsata (Rock bee) and
Apis mellifera, (Italian Bee), are complentary to each other but have different adaptations. A.
cerana is better acclimatized to higher altitudes of the Himalayan region. A. mellifera & Apis
dorsata is more profitable in the plains.

Management: The bee-keeper should be familiar with the source of nectar and pollen within his
locality. The most important sources are nectar and pollen. The sources of nectar are Tamarind,
Mango, Guava and most of the fruit crops.Whereas the sources of pollen include crops such as
maize, sorghum & other millets, bulrush, sunflower and palm tree. The plants which will provide
nectar and pollen for honey bees are known as bee pasturages. The bee keeping activity must
begin with flowering season. The beginner should start with 2 and not more than 5 colonies. A
minimum of 2 colonies is recommended because in the event of some mishap, such as the loss of
the queen occurring in one, advantage may be taken with the other.
The bees are reared in beehives viz., Newtons beehive, Longstroth beehive. The beehive consists
of floor-board, brood chamber, super chamber, top cover, inner cover, frames and entrance rod.
These parts can easily be separated. The hive may be double walled or single walled. The single
walled hive is light and cheap. The most suitable time for commencing bee keeping in a locality
is the arrival of the swarming season. Swarming is a natural tendency of bees to divide their
colonies under conditions that are generally favourable for the survival of both parent colony and
the swarm. The castes of bees include queen, king & droves. This occurs during the late spring or
early summer.

15.1 Sericulture
Sericulture is an agro-industry, the end product of which is silk Sericulture involves thee
activities viz., Mulberry cultivation, Silkworm rearing, Reeling fo the silk from the cocoons
formed by the worms. The first two activities are basically agriculture in nature and the later is
an industry of different financial investments. India is the second largest producer of mulberry
silk after china. It currently produces about 1, 27,495 tons of reeling cocoons and 14,048 tonnes
of raw silk from a mulberry cropped area of 2,82,244 ha. The sericulture is practiced in India

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both in tropical (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and West Bengal) and temperate
(Jammu and Kashmir)climates. The mulberry silk goods produced in India are mainly exported
to USA, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Singapore, Canada, UAE, Switzerland,
Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand etc.

15.1.1.Moriculture: Cultivation of mulberry plants is called as moriculture. Morus is the Latin

word for mulberry. The mulberry plant is exploited for commercial production of silk, since it
constitutes the chief food for mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. Mulberry leaf protein is the
source for the silkworm to bio-synthesize the silk, which is made up of two proteins, fibroin and
sericin. Nearly 70 per cent to the silk proteins produced by a silkworm are directly derived from
the proteins of the mulberry leaves. There are about 20 species of mulberry, of which four are
commonly cultivated. They are Morus alba, M. Indica, M. Serrata and M. latifolia. It can be
cultivated on wide range of soils. The recommended NPK dose is 120 – 50 – 50 kg/ha under rain
fed and 300 -120 – 120 kg/ha under irrigated conditions. The important mulberry varieties are
Kanva-2 (M5), S13, S30, S36, S41, S54, DD, V1 and Ananta. A spacing of 90 cm X 90 cm
under rainfed conditions (pit method) and 120cm x 60cm under irrigated conditions is commonly
followed. It is mainly propagated by cuttings. The planting season is July – August. The crop can
yield well for 12 years, after which they are pulled out and fresh planting is done yield of
mulberry leaves is 30-40 t/ha/year.

15.1.2.Silk worm rearing

There are four types of silk worms viz., mulberry silk worm – Bombyx mori, Eri silk worm –
Philosamia ricini, Tassar silk worm – Antheraea mylitta, Muga silk worm – Antheraea assama.
The silkworm is reared in a rearing house. Maintenance of proper temperature (24 – 28 0C) and
humidity (70 – 85%) depending upon the silkworm stage (i.e., instar) is very essential. Initially
the disease free layings (DFLS) or egg cards are collected from a Government Grainage and kept
for hatching in a dark and cool place. One DFL is equivalent to 400 eggs. After hatching
brushing is done which is defined as transferring of hatched larvae into rearing trays. The rearing
trays usually made up of bamboo/plastic. The space requirement for 100 DFLs varies from 4 -14
m2 during 1st during 1st instar to 181 – 360 m2 during 5th instar. The newly hatched larvae after
one hour of hatching get ready to feed on mulberry leaves. The leaf requirement of growing
silkworms is estimated at 2-4kg during 1st instar to 600 650 kg during 5th instar for 100 DFLs.
During the first three instars (which is known as chawki rearing) the silkworms are fed with
tender chopped leaves, while during the late age rearing i.e., 4th and 5th instar the worms are fed
with entire leaves without any chopping. During the 5th instar i.e., after 5 days of the 4th moult
the silkworm becomes fully matured and ready to spin into a cacoon. This is the last stage of
rearing operation. After this stage the mature silkworms are transferred on to the cocoon frames
or mountages for spinning of cocoons. The mountages are popularly known as chandrke. Each
chandrika can accommodate 1000 – 1200 worms depending upon the silkworm race. The
spinning activity is completed within 2 days and the larvae enter into pupal stage which lasts for

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6 -7days. Within a week the cocoons are harvested and sent for stifling (killing of pupae before
emergence) and storage. On an average the cacoon yield is estimated at 55 to 60 kg for 100
DFLs per crop. Normally 5 to 6 crops are taken per annum. The length of silk filament per
cacoon is about 350 meter in Indian multivoltine, whereas it is about 1800 m in case of Japanese
bivoltine race.

Agro-forestry
Agro-forestry may be defined as an integrated self sustained land management system, which
involves deliberate introduction/retention of woody components with agricultural crops
including pasture/livestock, simultaneously or sequential on the same unit of land, meeting the
ecological and socio-economic needs of people. An Agro-forestry system is more acceptable
than tree farming alone, since the intercropped annuals regulate income when the tress are too
young to yield beneficial produce. On the other hand, mature trees bring about more stability in
the system because of their innate ability to withstand destructive aberrations in rainfall.
Their perennial character helps make use of the non-seasonal rains. In addition an agro-forestry
system provides to varied needs of the farmer – food, fuel, fodder and employment. Some Agro-
forestry systems (agri-horticulture) enhance employment opportunities by spreading labour
needs which otherwise are concentrated in the cropping season. Important agro-forestry systems
relevant to farming systems approach are discussed below.

1.Agrisilviculture – In this system agricultural crops are intercropped with tree crops in the
interspaces available between trees. Tree component gives fodder, fuel and timber including
green leaf manure. It is ideal for Class IV soils of dry lands with annual rainfall around 750 mm.
The positive associative effect of Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania aegyptica has been found
in crops like hybrid Napier, Lucerne, oat and several other cereal forages.

2 Silvi-pastoral system – The system is primarily meant for augmenting the scarce food supply.
It integrates pasture and/or animals with tress. In Marginal lands (Class IV onwards), this system
promotes sustainability via resource conservation and its efficient use, improvement in soil
quality and by linking agriculture with cattle.

3 Agri-silvipastoral system – The system integrates crop and /or animal with trees. Woody
perennials preferably of fodder value are introduced deliberately. Such systems can be used for
food production and soil conservation besides providing fodder and fuel. It may be tree-livestock
crop mix around homestead, wood-hedge rows for browsing, green-leaf manure and soil
conservation or for an integrated production of pasture, crops animals and wood.

4 Agri-horticultural system – It is one form of agroforestry in which tree component is fruit

tree. It is also called as food-cum-fruit system. In which short duration arable crops are raised in
the interspaces of fruit trees. Some of the fruit trees that can be considered are guava,

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pomegranate, custard apple, sapota and mango. Pulses are the important arable crops for this
system. However, depending upon the requirements, others like sorghum and pearl millet can be
grown in the interspaces of fruit trees. Reasons for this system not being widely adopted are:

• Economic position of farmers may not permit awaiting income for 5-6 years
• Watering of fruit trees, till their establishment is a problem in summer period
• Marketing problems for perishable horticultural produce

5 (a). Horti/silvipastoral system- Class IV and above soils, uneconomical for arable crop
production are termed as non-arable lands. Horti-Pastoral system is an agro-forestry system
involving integration of fruit trees with pasture. When a top feed tree replaces fruit tree, it is
called horti-pastoral system. Guava, custard apple and ber suits well in an hortipastoral system
with grasses like Cenchrus ciliaris (“anjan”), C.setigerus (birdfoot), Panicum antidotale (blue
panic), Dicanthium annulatum (marvel) and Chloris gayana (Rhodes), and legumes like
Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra (stylo) and Macroptilum atropurpurium (siratro).

(b) Top-feed trees ideal for Silvi-pastoral system are: Acacia nilotica(babul) , Acacia
senagel(gum Arabica) , Bauhinea purpurea(khairwal) , Dalbergia sissoo(shisham) , Gmelina
arborea(gummadi teak) , Hardwickia binata(yepi), Leucaena leucocephala(subabul), Sesbania
grandiflora(avise). Grasses and legumes indicated under horti-passtoral system are also suitable
for silvi-pastoral system.

6 Alley cropping Food crops are grown in alleys formed by hedgerows of trees or shrubs in
arable lands. It is also known as “hedgerow” intercropping”. Hedgerows are cut back at about
one meter height at planting and kept pruned during cropping to prevent shading and to reduce
competition with food crops. It is recommended for humid tropics, primarily as an alternative to
shifting cultivation. In semi-arid regions of India, alley cropping provides fodder during dry
period since mulching the crop with hedgerow pruning does not usually contribute to increased
crop production. Advantages of this system are :
• Provision of green fodder during lean period of the year.
• Higher total biomass production per unit area than arable crops alone.
• Efficient use of off season precipitation in the absence of a crop.
• Additional employment during off-season.
• It serves as a barrier to surface runoff leading to soil and water conservation.

Based on the objectives , three types of alley

cropping are recognized
(i)Forage alley cropping
(ii)Forage-cum-mulching alley system and
(iii)Forage-cum-pole system.

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 College of Agriculture Powarkheda , Hoshangabad
In all the three systems, crops are grown in alleys and forage obtained from the lopping of
hedgerows. However, gross returns are higher in all the alley cropping systems than the sole crop
system.

7 Tree farming
Trees can flourish and yield abundantly where arable crops are not profitable. Farmers of dry
lands are inclined to tree farming because of labour scarcity at peak periods of farm operations
and frequent crop failure due to drought. A number of multipurpose tree systems (MPTS) have
been tested for their suitability and profitability under different situations(Table 15.1)
Table 15.1. List of multipurpose trees for different rainfall conditions
Annual rainfall < 500 mm Annual rainfall 500 mm to 750 mm

Acacia nilotica Acacia nilotica

Acacia aneura Acacia ferruginea
Acacia tortilis Albizia lebbeck
Acacia albida Azadirachta indica
Prosopis cineraria Casuarina equisetifolia
Prosopis juliflora Cassia sturti
Pithecalobium dulce Dalbergia sissoo
Leucaena leucocephala
Tamarindus indica

8 Role of trees in farming system

• Improve land productivity
• Provides 3 Fs viz.fuel used, fodder and fruit
• Service functions like shade for the cattle, workers, conservation of soil fertility, fencing and
water conservation
• Increase income earning oppurtunities
• Strengthen risk management through diversification

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