Prunings should be timed so that applied litter is releasing nutrients when the root crops are most demanding - during rapid corm development. Continuous cropping may be possible in some very productive HI systems where organic matter and nutrients are continually returned to the soil in large enough quantities. It is likely though, that some fallow between the normal 3 to 4 year cropping period will be required. Two years seems to be a reasonable period. After a 2-year fallow, during which hedges are left alone, a major fuelwood harvest can be expected.
Crop yields are the best indicator of the fallow requirement.
Once the hedgerows are in place, the farmer should experiment with different fallow lengths to find the combination that yields the most while maintaining the site's productivity. Different sites will require different management strategies. In any situation, continued, close observation of crop performance is essential. The technical guidelines offered here are based largely on information collected by the AIS Information Officer during field visits and personal interviews with project personnel. Charles Rogers, Project Manager.