Soil fertility management for reclamation of Imperata grasslands by smallholder agroforestry

Imperata cylindrica grasslands in Southeast Asia are commonly believed to be weedy, indicators of poor soil, and/or soil degraders. Data from Sumatra, Indonesia, suggest that Imperata occurs on a wide range of soil types, not all of which are poor. There is no evidence that Imperata directly degrade...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agroforestry systems 1996-01, Vol.36 (1), p.181-202
Main Authors: Santoso, D., Adiningsih, S., Mutert, E., Fairhurst, T., Van Noordwijk, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Imperata cylindrica grasslands in Southeast Asia are commonly believed to be weedy, indicators of poor soil, and/or soil degraders. Data from Sumatra, Indonesia, suggest that Imperata occurs on a wide range of soil types, not all of which are poor. There is no evidence that Imperata directly degrades soil, although many Imperata soils are low in available phosphorus and effective nitrogen supplies. In many cases, soil fertility can be restored with erosion control, legume crops, and rock phosphate application. Case studies of sites in Sumatra illustrate the feasibility of reclaiming Imperata grasslands for agriculture and forestry.
ISSN:0167-4366
1572-9680
DOI:10.1007/BF00142873