The basis of Inga Alley Cropping (IAC) system is to create biological synergies that benefit crop production in many ways. The system is based on planting rows of Inga trees at 500mm centres, with each row 4m apart. Crops are then planted in the alleys between the rows of Inga trees and receive the bene t of growing in the biomass and nutrients that build up in the alleys.
Large quantities of tough Inga leaves absorb Phosphorus from atmospheric dust and return it to the alleys for crops to use. The leaves build up in the alleys producing a rain resistant mulch containing other key nutrients, reducing the effects of heavy rain and retaining large amounts of moisture Inga is also nitrogen fixing reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.
These factors build a self balancing ecosystem capable of supporting a variety of other crops within the Inga Alleys.
IAC system provide substantial efficiency gains for farmers changing from Swidden based agriculture.
Stopping the destructive slash and burn practice and removing the need for lengthy fallow periods reduces land use, by a factor of between 5 and 20 times. Reducing time spent on slashing, burning and weeding provides up to 30% more time for productive activities.
More efficient use of the land allows permanent farms closer to villages saving substantial time and effort traveling to distant yields and carry harvests. Crop damage from wild animals is often reduced because the farms are nearer to the villages.
Co2 emissions are greatly reduced when slash and burn is stopped.
The IAC system is based on recycling biomass and nutrient grown and harvested from the Inga trees and built up in the alleys. After pruning all leaves are deposited in the alleys to build up a bed of biomass, recycling key nutrients and retaining large amounts of water. Crops are planted in the biomass and received bene t from the mulch and nitrogen stored on the Inga roots.
Wood harvested from pruning the Inga trees provides excellent re wood for cook stoves, less time is spent collecting and carrying re wood, less deforestation occurs and clean burning Inga is less smoky/harmful than other sources of re wood.
IAC supports the resilience of crops to drought as crops develop in the shade of the Inga trees in mulch from pollarding. This maintains the moisture in the soil.
There are also natural pest control mechanism built into with the leaf design encouraging symbiotic pest control. IAC also gives resilience to soil erosion as tree planted land curtails run o of soil and nutrients during the heavy rains.
These aspects are well documented in Honduras and Cameroon.
Economic resilience is also provided by better yield, less e ort, more cash crops and investment in infrastructure eg fencing and tracks. This in turn provides opportunities for young people to work and stay in the rural area strengthening and regenerating communities.
Large quantities of tough Inga leaves absorb Phosphorus from atmospheric dust and return it to the alleys for crops to use. The leaves build up in the alleys producing a rain resistant mulch containing other key nutrients, reducing the effects of heavy rain and retaining large amounts of moisture Inga is also nitrogen fixing reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.
These factors build a self balancing ecosystem capable of supporting a variety of other crops within the Inga Alleys.
IAC system provide substantial efficiency gains for farmers changing from Swidden based agriculture.
Stopping the destructive slash and burn practice and removing the need for lengthy fallow periods reduces land use, by a factor of between 5 and 20 times. Reducing time spent on slashing, burning and weeding provides up to 30% more time for productive activities.
More efficient use of the land allows permanent farms closer to villages saving substantial time and effort traveling to distant yields and carry harvests. Crop damage from wild animals is often reduced because the farms are nearer to the villages.
Co2 emissions are greatly reduced when slash and burn is stopped.
The IAC system is based on recycling biomass and nutrient grown and harvested from the Inga trees and built up in the alleys. After pruning all leaves are deposited in the alleys to build up a bed of biomass, recycling key nutrients and retaining large amounts of water. Crops are planted in the biomass and received bene t from the mulch and nitrogen stored on the Inga roots.
Wood harvested from pruning the Inga trees provides excellent re wood for cook stoves, less time is spent collecting and carrying re wood, less deforestation occurs and clean burning Inga is less smoky/harmful than other sources of re wood.
IAC supports the resilience of crops to drought as crops develop in the shade of the Inga trees in mulch from pollarding. This maintains the moisture in the soil.
There are also natural pest control mechanism built into with the leaf design encouraging symbiotic pest control. IAC also gives resilience to soil erosion as tree planted land curtails run o of soil and nutrients during the heavy rains.
These aspects are well documented in Honduras and Cameroon.
Economic resilience is also provided by better yield, less e ort, more cash crops and investment in infrastructure eg fencing and tracks. This in turn provides opportunities for young people to work and stay in the rural area strengthening and regenerating communities.