ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS,

Abstract

EMPHASISING THE NEED OF DEVELOPING A METHODOLOGY FOR QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM, THE AUTHORS HAVE 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 REOURCES . 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 AND BHABAR GRASS ARE HIGHLY SUSTAINABLE.