Abstract
Sericulture-based agroforestry systems (AFS) have great potential for higher returns in the north-eastern region with sloping and valley-land conditions. A field investigation was initiated in November, 1992 at Research Farm, Barapani (980 m above msl, 26°N and 92°E and average rainfall 2428 mm/year) on acid Alfisol. Seven mulberry (Morus alba L.) varieties, seven silkworm breeds and rearing performance of a bivoltine breed, NB-18 were evaluated in different trials. Three sericulture-based AFS viz. sericulture with 1. fruit trees and fodder grasses, 2. field (upland) crops, and 3. lowland rice were developed at the Research Farm. Mulberry varieties TR-4, S-1635 and TR-10, and NB-18 — a bivoltine silkworm breed were found better suited for this region. Sericulture with field crops (French bean-groundnut-mustard/vegetables) for valley land, with fruit plants (guava, pineapple) and grasses for mid-hill situations, and with rice for low lands were found suitable at the Farm and for possible adoption in the north-eastern hill region of India.
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Dhyani, S.K., Chauhan, D.S., Kumar, D. et al. Sericulture-based agroforestry systems for hilly areas of north-east India. Agroforest Syst 34, 247–258 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046925
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046925