The imparata grassland of Southeast Asia represent a vast underutilized natural resource.They cover an aerial extent exceeding 50 million hectares.Fifteen to twenty million hectares are estimated to have terrain characteristics that do not inhibit agriculture and are free from forest concessions, yet ar unmanaged condition (World Bank, 1974).Much of the rest is on steeper, more marginal soils classified as forest land but without tree cover.Most Imperata cylindrica grasslands (known as alang-alang,cogon,lalang in local language) in the region were derived through slash and burn cultivation ,linked with logging activities , and maintained through the frequent occurrence of fire .As long as there is forest land available, most small-scale cultivators find higher returns to labor by abandoning depleted lands as imperata invades, and opening more forest through slash-and- burn.
Publication year
1995
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
canopy, cereals, drought, drought resistance, rice, screening, technique, temperature, water stress
