Soil conservation includes both control of erosion and maintenance of fertility. The principal adverse effect of erosion is reduction in fertility, through loss of soil organic matter and nutrients. Specific problems of Vertisols include the high erosion hazard on gentle slopes, low permeability and N and P deficiencies. Six agroforestry practices can be effective in control of erosion, and eight in maintenance of fertility. At the same time, agroforestry contributes to other productive and service functions of farming systems. There has been very little agroforestry research conducted on Vertisols. The existence of a high apparent potential for soil conservation, coupled with the paucity of research results, calls for an internationally coordinated programme of soils research on Vertisols in semi-arid climates.
Publication year
1987
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
agroforestry, erosion control, semiarid zones, vertisols
