Sesbania sesban (sesban).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Peter Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Soil Improvement ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Germplasm Collections ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Tropical America ◽  
Breeding Programmes

Abstract S. sesban is a fast-growing leguminous shrub or small tree, up to 8 m tall and 12 cm in diameter. Although its geographical origin is not known, it is widely distributed and cultivated throughout tropical Africa and Asia, and has been introduced into tropical America. It is found both in the humid tropics and in more arid and semiarid regions of the world. It is often utilized as a short rotation tree on fallow and marginal lands, or as an agroforestry tree within farming systems - in alley-cropping, as a shade tree, as a support tree for horticultural plants and for planted fallows. It is mostly grown for production of highly nutritive and digestible leaf fodder for which it is repeatedly coppiced. The leaves are also used as a green manure. Other uses include: soil conservation, erosion control, soil improvement, land reclamation, shelterbelts/windbreaks and hedges. The wood is used as fuelwood, for light construction purposes, and for the manufacture of pulp. The leaves and flowers are edible; they are also utilized, along with a gum from the seeds and bark, for traditional medicines. It can easily be grown from seed and nursery seedlings. There are no reports of breeding programmes for the species (the most widely collected of the genus) although most accessions originate from Africa. Germplasm collections are available in Ethiopia, Australia and Hawaii (USA).

Tropical Pasture Technology for Marginal Lands of Tropical America

1986 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. Toledo ◽  
Gustavo A. Nores
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Pasture ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Tropical America

Vacuum preloading consolidation of reclaimed land: a case study

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Q Shang ◽  
M Tang ◽  
Z Miao
Keyword(s):  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Soil Improvement ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Vacuum Preloading ◽  
Reclaimed Land ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Prefabricated Vertical Drains ◽  
Vertical Drains ◽  
Soft Clays

This case study presents the design, operation, and results of a soil improvement project using the vacuum preloading method on 480 000 m2 of reclaimed land in Xingang Port, Tianjing, China. The areas treated with vacuum ranged from 5000 to 30 000 m2. The effects of soil improvement are demonstrated through the average consolidation settlement of 2.0 m and increases in undrained shear strengths by a factor of two to four or more. The study shows that the vacuum method is an effective tool for the consolidation of very soft, highly compressive clayey soils over a large area. The technique is especially feasible in cases where there is a lack of surcharge loading fills, extremely low shear strength, soft ground adjacent to critical slopes, and access to a power supply.Key words: vacuum preloading consolidation, soil improvement, soft clays, land reclamation, prefabricated vertical drains.

scholarly journals Narrow and Brittle or Broad and Nimble? Comparing Adaptive Capacity in Simplifying and Diversifying Farming Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margiana Petersen-Rockney ◽  
Patrick Baur ◽  
Aidee Guzman ◽  
S. Franz Bender ◽  
Adam Calo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Centralized Control ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Land Access ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Ecological Complexity ◽  
Triple Threat

Humanity faces a triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and global food insecurity. In response, increasing the general adaptive capacity of farming systems is essential. We identify two divergent strategies for building adaptive capacity. Simplifying processes seek to narrowly maximize production by shifting the basis of agricultural production toward centralized control of socially and ecologically homogenized systems. Diversifying processes cultivate social-ecological complexity in order to provide multiple ecosystem services, maintain management flexibility, and promote coordinated adaptation across levels. Through five primarily United States focused cases of distinct agricultural challenges—foodborne pathogens, drought, marginal lands, labor availability, and land access and tenure—we compare simplifying and diversifying responses to assess how these pathways differentially enhance or degrade the adaptive capacity of farming systems in the context of the triple threat. These cases show that diversifying processes can weave a form of broad and nimble adaptive capacity that is fundamentally distinct from the narrow and brittle adaptive capacity produced through simplification. We find that while there are structural limitations and tradeoffs to diversifying processes, adaptive capacity can be facilitated by empowering people and enhancing ecosystem functionality to proactively distribute resources and knowledge where needed and to nimbly respond to changing circumstances. Our cases suggest that, in order to garner the most adaptive benefits from diversification, farming systems should balance the pursuit of multiple goals, which in turn requires an inclusive process for active dialogue and negotiation among diverse perspectives. Instead of locking farming systems into pernicious cycles that reproduce social and ecological externalities, diversification processes can enable nimble responses to a broad spectrum of possible stressors and shocks, while also promoting social equity and ecological sustainability.

Tropical and subtropical forage germplasm conservation and science on their deathbed! 2. Genebanks, FAO and donors must take urgent steps to overcome the crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce C Pengelly ◽  
Brigitte L Maass
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Material ◽  
Germplasm Conservation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Germplasm Collections ◽  
Diversity Assessment ◽  
Global Demand ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
National Governments ◽  
A Current

Tropical and subtropical forage (TSTF) germplasm collections in the international centres of International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and in many national centres of developed and developing countries are under threat due to reduced financial support. Subsequent lack of skills in taxonomy, diversity assessment and adaptation would preclude them playing their crucial role in underpinning forage research for tropical and subtropical farming systems, to meet the growing global demand for livestock products together with reducing their environmental footprint. Also due to well-meant legal changes of biodiversity ownership as well as a current political culture of ‘us versus them’, germplasm collecting and sharing has become challenging. As a result, most centres have become inward-looking, have few links to other members of the global TSTF research community, including other TSTF genebanks, and are struggling to do the basics of conserving their current holdings. Undoubtedly, valuable germplasm has already been lost, and most genebanks lack the skills and knowledge to add value to research programs to develop new forages or select the best options for new environmental uses. This decline has been a relatively rapid process and reached the crisis point of today in just 20–25 years. This article proposes a four-pronged strategy based on improved efficiency, effectiveness, awareness and collaboration that should be adopted urgently. Swift and drastic action is required of international agencies, national governments, researchers and industry bodies. Much of the germplasm was collected from regions that have since undergone massive development or other changes in land use. Failure to act now will, consequently, result in further loss of genetic material forever and associated passport and descriptive information.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the sustainability of contrasted pig farming systems: breeding programmes

animal ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2016-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Rydhmer ◽  
J.L. Gourdine ◽  
K. de Greef ◽  
M. Bonneau
Keyword(s):  
Farming Systems ◽  
Pig Farming ◽  
Breeding Programmes

New Farming Systems Development in the Wetter Tropics

1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. R. Juo
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Fallow Systems ◽  
Nutritional Needs ◽  
Bush Fallow ◽  
Farming Systems Research ◽  
Mixed Systems

SUMMARYFarming systems in the wetter tropics may be divided into three simplified models: the irrigated paddy-rice multistorey homestead garden complex of Asia, the tree and cash crop plantations of Latin America, and the mixed root crop-bush fallow systems of Africa. In upland ecosystems, sustainable farming systems development rests on a delicate balance between conservation and utilization. To meet the basic food and nutritional needs of the indigenous population, there is great potential for the improvement and adaptation of multistorey homestead gardens and mixed systems which include trees and annual and perennial crops. The principle and practice of ‘alley cropping’ provide an ecologically sound basis for future farming systems research and development in the region.

Productivity of poplar short rotation coppice in an alley-cropping agroforestry system

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 933-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Lamerre ◽  
Kai-Uwe Schwarz ◽  
Maren Langhof ◽  
Georg von Wühlisch ◽  
Jörg-Michael Greef
Keyword(s):  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Short Rotation Coppice ◽  
Short Rotation

scholarly journals Underutilized Fruits of Assam for Livelihood and Nutritional Security

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
U Barua ◽  
R P Das ◽  
B Gogoi ◽  
S R Baruah
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Marginal Lands

India is endowed with a rich genetic diversity of fruits. The Hindustani centre represents 344 species of fruits. Northeast India, meeting ground of Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese bio-geographical areas is one of the 18 mega-biodiversity centers of the World, has contributed the fruit genera like Citrus, Musa, Mangifera, Docynia, Elaeocarpus, Myrica, Morus, Artocarpus, etc. There are a quite large number of indigenous and underutilized fruit crops, which are being used by the local inhabitants in rural areas. These underutilized fruits are fairly rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidant properties and are serving as protective food. Because of their curative properties, different parts of these fruit and plants have been used in ethno-medicines. Apart from their nutritive and medicinal values quite a few of these underutilized fruits have good flavor, colour and juice content and can be used for value additions. Several underutilized fruit species which have potential for commercial exploitation are yet to be utilized to their potential. These fruit crops have not undergone any conscious phase of domestication and selection. Their cultivation is very restricted and they grow in wild and semi wild condition and adapted to local climatic conditions. Hence they can thrive even under most adverse situation. Their adoption on a commercial scale, with crop improvement, standardization of cultural practices and popularization in diverse farming systems and value additions are warranted to achieve stability in farm production and food security. Many underutilized species, well adapted to marginal lands and with low cost inputs, may thus be of great benefit for the survival of poor communities, employment generation and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.

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