An analysis was made of information provided by farmers about products and services of tree species, and the preferred tree species for agroforestry systems in the Yurimaguas, Pucallpa and Iquitos areas of Peru. The methodology of the study was based on a process developed by the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), with modifications to adapt it to the study area. Farmers selected 58 species in Yurimaguas, 62 in Pucallpa and 100 in Iquitos; the selections included 41 plant families. Considering the number of species preferred by farmers and the number of people surveyed, farmers in the Yurimaguas area appeared to have greater knowledge about trees than farmers in the other 2 areas. Some 23 priory species in 17 families were selected for the development of agroforestry systems for this tropical humid lowland zone. The priority products of these 23 species are wood, energy and food. The highest-priority species for genetic improvement research for agroforestry systems are Bactris gasipaes, Cedrelinga catenaeformis, Inga edulis, Calycophyllum spruceanum and Guazuma crinita.
Tag: inga edulis
Soil and water conservation by contour hedging in the humid tropics of Peru
A study was conducted for over 6 years (October 1987–December 1993) in the humid tropics of Peru at Yurimaguas (annual rainfall 2200 mm) on a sloping (15–20%) Typic Paleudult to evaluate the soil and water conservation potential of contour hedgerows of Inga edulis (locally known as guaba). The experiment involved two treatments: (a) sole crops of rice and cowpea in annual rotation and (b) intercropping of annual crops between inga contour hedgerows 4 m apart, replicated three times in a randomised block design. Non-replicated plots of bare-fallow and secondary forest were also monitored for soil loss and runoff. Contour hedgerow intercropping conserved, on average annually, 287 mm water and 73 t ha1 soil, which represented 83% and 93% respectively of the amounts that were lost from sole cropping; it maintained soil nutrients at a much higher level and improved soil physical conditions compared with sole cropping of annuals. The significant soil and water conservation achieved by hedgerows, however, did not translate into a striking crop yield increase during the 5 year monitoring period; only the yields of three out of 15 crops in the last 2 years were significantly higher in hedgerow intercropping than in sole cropping. The lack of response was partly due to the fact that 22% of the land area was lost to the hedgerows and partly that a longer time span may be required to realise the benefits of soil conservation. However, contour hedgerow intercropping is recommended for moderate sloping lands of the humid tropics in Peru, considering the long-term conservation of land resource and the potential for continuous cropping with minimal inputs.