ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS,

Abstract

EMPHASISING THE NEED OF DEVELOPING A METHODOLOGY FOR QUANTITATIVE OR QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM, THE AUTHORS ATTEMPTED TO DEVELOP A SIMPLE SUSTAINABILITY INDEX (SI) CONSIDERING IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL , ECONOMICAL AND SOCIAL CRITERIA. ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA CONSIDERED ARE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND NITROGEN ENRICHMENT , EROSION CONTROL, RECHARGING OF UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES , TOLERANCE TO CLIMATIC EXTREMES AND TOXICATION OF SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES. THE SOCIO- ECONOMIC CRITERIA ARE NET INCOME , INCOME STABILITY , FULFILMENT OF LOCAL NEEDS, EMPLOYMENT GENERATION , PRODUCTIVE USE OF WASTELANDS , EXTERNAL INPUT REQUIREMENT AND CREATION OF CAPITAL STOCK. THE SI VALUES FOR RECOMMENDED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS FOR DIFFERENT LAND CAPABILITY CLASSES IN THE NORTH- WESTERN HILL REGION HAVE BEEN EVALUATED USING SI TECHNIQUE. IT IS REVEALED THAT SILVIPASTORAL SYSTEMS ON DEGRADED LAND WITH N- FIXING TREES ND BHABAR GRASS ARE HIGHLY SUSTAINABLE.