Incorporation of mulberry in contour hedgerows to increase overall benefits: a case study from Ningnan County, Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

Contour hedgerow intercropping system (alley cropping) has been promoted as a promising option for sustainable land management in many parts of the world. It was introduced to China in 1991 as a management option of sloping croplands. Despite its effectiveness in soil conservation and soil fertility improvement, farmers' adoption had been unsatisfactory before 1998, mainly due to its lack of visible and direct income. Mulberry ( Morus alba) is planted within two rows of hedgerows of nitrogen-fixing plants in order to increase economic benefits to Chinese farmers, and to fully use land resources and the rich soil nutrients under hedgerows. Compared to the mulberry conventionally planted on land risers, mulberry planted within hedgerows produces higher fresh and dry matter leaf biomass. The economic traits of the mulberry planted in hedgerows are superior to those of the mulberry planted on land riser. The innovation of incorporating mulberry trees in hedgerows helps solve the problems of land lost to hedgerows and lack of direct income, and initiates a new direction of use and management of the contour hedgerow intercropping system to achieve more benefits. Incorporation of mulberry trees in hedgerows has become the key factor for farmers' adoption of the technology in the project region. Study of other cash crops that can be incorporated in hedgerows is needed.