Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper compares the agricultural productivity with that of natural vegetation in three major landforms (mountains, foothill belts, and adjacent plains) of the Central Himalaya, and causes of difference or similarity in productivities are examined. In the hills, the average net primary production (NPP) of rainfed agriculture was about two times lower than that of the average irrigated (valley) hill agriculture. Compared to hill agriculture the NPP of bhabar (foothill belt) agriculture was much higher. On average, tarai (adjacent plain) agriculture was about twice as much as that of the bhabar, and several times greater than hill agriculture. The average NPP of rainfed crop fields of hill agriculture realized only about 13% of the average NPP of natural forests. The NPP of bhabar (foothill belt) agriculture was 32% lower. The NPP of tarai (adjacent plain) agriculture was generally higher than that of the natural forests. This study emphasizes that different agricultural productivities can be obtained in a region having similar productivities in natural ecosystems due to the difference in vulnerability of the land, subsequent removal of natural biomass, and differences in socio-economic conditions.
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