Page 155 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

S 4 – 3

Regreening ravines with Silvipastoral System – an Imperative way of Augmenting Fodder
Production in Ravine lands of Rajasthan

S.Kala*, A.K. Parandiyal, H.R.Meena, Ashok Kumar, Shakir Ali, B.L.Mina and I Rashmi
* Scientist (Forestry), ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation
Research Centre, Kota-324002 (Rajasthan).
*Corresponding author e-mail: kalaforestry@gmail.com
Introduction

Ravine lands are highly degraded dry lands associated with several constraints for vegetation growth due
to severe land degradation. India has approximately 2.06 m ha of ravine lands which constitute 0.65% of total
geographical area of 328 m ha (ICAR 2010). Rajasthan is estimated to have 452000 ha of ravine lands and
thus account for about 12.5 % of the total ravine area in the country which is distributed as medium and deep
gullies. At present agroforestry meets almost half of the demand of fuel wood, 2/3 of the small timber, 70-80
per cent wood for plywood, 60 per cent raw material for paper pulp and 9-11 per cent of the green fodder
requirement of livestock, besides meeting the subsistence needs of households for food, fodder, fruit, fiber,
medicine etc (Dhayani et al.,2017). The best scientific utilization of these areas is by using perennial plant
productive systems. Tree, shrub and grass species have been evaluated and identified for arresting extension
of ravines. But for productive utilization of ravines, introduction of suitable multipurpose trees (MPTs),
oilseed species and fruit trees are always desirable. Ravine rehabilitation requires an integrated approach
of using soil and water conservation measures along with selection of suitable tree species. (Chaturvedi et
al. 2014). The trees species selected should have ability to withstand stress, fast growing, easy to establish,
multipurpose uses, fibrous roots and potential to ameliorate the soil. In the semi-arid regions, silvipastoral
systems involving native tree species (e.g., Albizia procera, Albizia lebbeck, Acacia spp, Azadirachta indica,
Dalbergia sissoo, Morus alba and Pongamia pinnata) have been practiced for many years in India (Singh
and Roy, 1993). As the region experiences highly erratic rainfall coupled with extremes of temperature, the
survival and establishment of vegetation is always possible through implementation of efficient techniques
and methods. Production of Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) on degraded lands meets the twin objectives of
rehabilitation of a vital natural resource and obtaining an energy substitute. Three promising oilseed tree/
shrub species namely Azadirachta indica (Neem), Pongamia pinnata (Karanj) and Jatropha curcus (Ratanjot)
along with Dicanthium annualatum grass species were evaluated in the research farm of ICAR-IISWC,
Research centre, Kota-Rajasthan. Impact of moisture conservation technique viz., compartmental bunding
and half moon shape micro catchment has also been tested with along with control (no conservation measure)
in were also included in this experiment during 2008-2016.

Methodology
Field design, planting and management of silvipasture system
The optimum size of 0.50m x 0.50m x 0.50m pits are dugout at a desired spacing during the month
of April- May. The dugout soil is left for desiccation during May-June. All dried roots, pebbles etc. are
removed from the piled soils. 10-15 kg of farm yard manure (FYM) is mixed with the piled soil along with
50 g of insecticide powder in each pit. If soils are deficit in phosphorus, addition of 1 kg of SSP will improve

136 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development