Biomass generation of the hedgerow and open fallow systems and their implication to length of the fallow period

This study shows that the hedgerow fallow system has the potential in reducing the fallow period as it generates massive amount of biomass in a shorter period of time. In the humid tropics, biomass plays an indispensable role in potentially supplying the nutrients needed for crop production in shifting cultivation systems. During fallow period, much of the nutrients are locked up in the biomass to prevent nutrient losses; these nutrients are then released during cropping. The massive amount of biomass generated will proportionately store up a higher amount of nutrients needed during the cropping phase. The shortening of the fallow period is most important when land availability is scarce.