Abstract

RIVERO MORENO, Jaime. Cobertura vegetal de alfalfa entre hileras de una plantación comercial de Tara. RevActaNova. [online]. 2011, vol.5, n.2, pp.282-288. ISSN 1683-0789.

When farmers plant a monoculture of tara (Caesalpinia spinosa), they must wait between four and five years before having any economic return. From the beginning they have to invest money, work, and effort in their fields. However, with the implementation of an agroforestry system, they will be able to make use of a crop for harvesting for their own use as well as for an alternative income during the years of establishment and development of the tara trees. In addition, monoculture farming usually involves a slash and burn process, known as chaqueo. Chaqueo quickly diminishes soil nutrients, thereby exhausting lands. This non-sustainable method contributes to deforestation which leads to land erosion, landslides and floods. Agroforestry, the combination of agricultural and forest crops on the same land, eventually maintains or improves the quality of the soil, guaranteeing sustainable production and long-term yielding of economic and environmental benefits. This article describes a first experience in the implementation of an agroforestry system in the semi-arid climate of the Upper Valley of Cochabamba, combining a commercial plantation of tara with an annual alfalfa crop. The main source of content for this paper is the experience developed on agronomist Rolando Orellana’s property in the Community of Mamanaca. Rolando is a farmer with experience in tara and agricultural crop production in the Upper Valley of Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Keywords : agroforestry; tara; Caesalpinia spinosa.

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