Alley farming: A sustainable technology for crops and livestock production

TR Number

Date

2006

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc.

Abstract

The paper's study focused on developing farming systems that would eliminate fallow periods while increasing production and maintaining soil fertility. Crop yields increased with alley farming and the prunings from the alley crop, Leucaena leucocephala, were fed to cattle giving them increased body weight. Alley farming's benefits include improvement of soil fertility, provision of all year round fodder for livestock, possibility of continuous cropping, low capital requirement and supply of fuelwood and stakes. Constraints of alley farming include lack of knowledge about its benefits and lack of finances. The authors conclude with suggestions for effective extension of alley farming to enhance adoption.

Description

Metadata only record

Keywords

Conservation agriculture, Soil management, Soil conservation, Soil fertility, Agricultural ecosystems, Livestock, Alley farming, Livestock production, Leucaena leucocephala, Hedgerows, Field Scale

Citation

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 29(1): 131-144