Agronamic resource inventary of a homestead in the southern zone of Kerala

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken on the agronomic resources inventory of a homestead of 0.2 ha area in the southern zone of Kerala for a period of one year from June 1991 to May 1992. The study revealed that crop diversification was achieved in the homestead through intercropping in the interspaces of the tree species. The crop diversification helped to meet the multiple demands of the home and minimized the risk of monoculture. The homestead was mainly a coconut based multiple farming system. The agroforestry components consisted of jack, mango, breadfruit and Portia in addition to coconut. A multitude of crops including elephant foot yam, cassava, dioscorea, ginger and fodder grass were grown as intercrops. This resulted in a cropping intensity of 1.56. Crop livestock integration was a special feature of the homestead which helped to achieve sustainability. The nutrient cycling processes like litter fall, through fall and stem flow were studied. The annual litter addition by the major tree components in the homestead amounted to 936.35 kg and the nutrient input was to be tune of 8.5, 2.0 and 6.4 kg of N, P and K respectively. Through fall accounted for an annual nutrient return of 2.1, 0.2 and 3.2 kg of N, P and K respectively. The nutrient addition by stem flow was comparatively less. The organic manure addition was to the tune of 10.1 tonnes. This resulted in an addition of 49.1, 19.1 and 21.2 kg of N, P and K respectively. The moisture content and bulk density in the top soil layer was found to have a lower value in the home stead than in the open system. The maximum water holding capacity was always higher in home stead soils. The nutrient (available N, P and K) status and organic matter content, observed a higher value in the home stead. The population of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes were much higher in home stead soils. The soil temperature in the homestead was found to record a lower value while the values of relative humidity was higher in the ecoclimate of tree crops. The tree species were found to intercept the solar radiation. Maximum light interception was by jack canopies (90-92 per cent) and the least by coconut (74-78 per cent). The maximum net return was obtained from poultry farm while the maximum benefit: cost ratio was for coconut cultivation. The family labour provided a saving of Rs. 5625/- to the home stead. The net benefit from the home stead system was Rs. 28095/-. The benefit: cost ratio of the farming activities as a whole was 1.60.