Perennial Herbaceous Fodder Plants for Intact Canopy Cover
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2011-03-08 12:43 Updated: 2021-11-02 15:42
Compilers: Erik Bühlmann
Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano, Joana Eichenberger
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Tajikistan
- Region/ State/ Province: RRS
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Faizabad Rayon
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
The cultivation of perennial herbaceous fodder plants to be used to fertilise unproductive cropland, and as permanent crops to be used to increase farm fodder production.
Detailed description of the Technology
Perennial herbaceous fodder plants such as alfa-alfa and esparzet are cultivated for fodder production and to fertilise unproductive cropland. Esparzet and alfa-alfa are often grown on steep slopes not suitable for annual cropping and on unproductive cropland as green manure. Alfa-alfa and esparzet can be harvested for 6-10 years without tillage.
Purpose of the Technology: These crops fix nitrogen, so they help fertilise the soil so that farmers can plough or harrow the land after 5-10 years to grow annual crops again.Alfa-alfa and esparzet can be harvested for 6-10 years without tillage (depending on the soil characteristics and inclination).
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: As yield from perennial herbaceous fodder plant fields starts declining around 4-6 years after the initial cultivation, farmers make up for declining yields by applying additional seeds. Alfa-alfa and esparzet can be harvested twice a year (3-4 harvests a year if irrigated), which results in a significantly higher annual farm fodder production in comparison to ordinary haymaking fields.
Natural / human environment: Some farmers reported problems in growing esparzet or alfa-alfa on slopes with an inclination of more than 30%. However, various examples have shown that these perennial herbaceous fodder plants can be cultivated on steep slopes of up to 60%. On steep slopes an extra amount of seeds must be applied to offset those lost downslope by washing before germinating. Alfa alfa and esparzet are effective in reducing soil erosion since their cultivation leads to an more intact ground cover throughout the year. Furthermore, not needing to tillage for up to ten years helps conserve the soil resources.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Chinoro, Faizabad Rayon, RRS
- 📷 Erik Bühlmann (Berne, Switzerland)
- 📍 Duova, Faizabad Rayon, RRS
- 📷 Erik Bühlmann (Berne, Switzerland)
- 📍 Duova, Faizabad Rayon, RRS
- 📷 Erik Bühlmann (Berne, Switzerland)
- 📍 Chinoro, Faizabad Rayon, RRS
- 📷 Erik Bühlmann (Berne, Switzerland)
- 📍 Karsang, Faizabad Rayon
- 🗓 2005-04-06
- 📷 Erik Bühlmann (Berne, Switzerland)