Alley Cropping in Sloping Lands

News Source: The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
E mail: pcarrd@ultra.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Fax 63-49-536-0016, 2001-05-01

Increasing population pressure is forcing people to cultivate fragile ecosystems in hills and mountains. As a result, soil erosion and nutrient losses occur, leading to low productivity, flooding, and environmental degradation.

Adaptability of the Technology

Alley cropping is adapted to uplands, particularly to degraded hilly lands with a 10-50% slope.

Effectiveness of the Technology

Alley cropping reduces soil losses to less than 10mt/ha per year. It maintains the productivity of fertile soils and enhances the productivity of degraded ones. It improves the physical properties of the soil, maintains soil organic matter, promotes nutrient recycling, suppresses weeds and improves

productivity.

Assessment

Alley cropping involves establishing hedgerows planted with trees, shrubs and /or grasses along the contours. The spaces between hedgerows (the "alleyway"), are used to grow annual food crops (corn, upland rice, mungbean, vegetables, etc).

1. Assess and characterize the area, including biophysical aspects(topography, vegetation, climate and soil characteristics) and socioeconomic aspects (farming systems/practices, customs, means of livelihood, services available, etc).

Defining the Contours

2. Contour the slope using an A-frame or carpenterfs water level hose. The A-frame is a simple device made up of three wooden or bamboo poles with a leveling mechanism. The water level hose is made up of a water-filled 20-m transparent hose. Each end is attached to a wooden pole with a measuring tape. One pole is permanently placed at the reference point. The other pole is placed in each contour point, earlier established in a roving manner.

3. Plow and harrow.

Planting Hedgerows

4. Establish hedgerows closely and in double rows 0.5 m apart. Plant four to six seeds per hill with 13 cm between hills. Plant at the start of the rainy season. Hedgerows must be fast-growing plants such as grasses, fruit trees and multipurpose trees.

5. Trim the hedgerows depending on the season and soil fertility.

Planting Alley Crops

6. Plant in the alleyways crops such as corn, upland rice, peanut or mungbean. Practice crop rotation or intercropping of food crops and leguminous crops. The width of the alleyway may vary from 4 to 7 m, depending on the slope.

7. Apply the required fertilizer.

8. Livestock may be integrated as a source of manure. Feed livestock with cut grass or forage from the hedgerows.

9. Practice stubble mulching, cover cropping, green manuring, and minimum or zero tillage to further minimize soil erosion.

Index of Images

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  Figure 1 Hedgerows Planted along Contours

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  Figure 2 Newly Planted Hedgerow

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  Figure 3 Same Hedgerow a Few Months Later.

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