Yield assessment and economic returns from agroforestry systems in sub-temperate region of Himachal Pradesh, India

Different agroforestry systems existing in Kandaghat block of Solan district (H.P.) were identified and evaluated for biomass production and economic returns. Agri-silviculture (AS), Agri-silvipastoral (ASP), Agri-silivi-horticulture (ASH), Agri-horti-silviculture (AHS), Horti-pastoral (HP) and Silvi-pastoral (SP) were the prominent systems being practised in the area. Total biomass (AG+BG) of crops, grasses and trees were summed up to give a grand total biomass (C+G+T) of agroforestry system. The order of decrease in grand total biomass for different categories of farmers in AS was small (19.21 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > medium (18.85 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > marginal (18.28 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹); in ASPmedium (19.84 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > marginal (18.48 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > small (17.46 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹); in ASH small (21.02 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > marginal (17.48 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > medium (16.83 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹); in AHS medium (13.79 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > marginal (13.12 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > small (12.16 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹); in HP medium (15.36 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > small (13.34 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and in SP medium (24.88 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > small (23.24 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > marginal (22.13 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Net returns of marginal farmers decreased in the order of AHS (Rs. 297952 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > AS (Rs. 235059 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > ASH (Rs. 225557 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > ASP(Rs. 196173 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > SP (Rs.33232 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), while for small farmers the order of decrease was ASH (Rs. 269744 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > AHS (Rs. 259336.01 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > HP (Rs. 242041 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > ASP (Rs. 210521 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > AS (Rs. 198888 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > SP (Rs. 43085 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). In medium category, net returns exhibited order of AHS (Rs. 250870 ha yr) > HP (Rs. 232803 ha yr) > ASH (Rs. 223230 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > AS (Rs. 213595 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > AS (Rs.185707 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) > SP (Rs. 39072 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Our findings manifested that agroforestry systems contribute greatly in biomass production as well as help in socio-economic upliftment of farmers.