Sloping Land Agricultural Technology

Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT 1)

Since the mid-1970’s, the SALT 1 technology has utilized a number of fast growing nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs (NFT/S) for soil conservation and a biological fertilizer source in the uplands. These NFT/S are planted in double hedgerows along the contour of a sloped area every four to five meters apart. The rich nitrogen fixing hedges act as a physical barrier to soil erosion, which enhances the soil erosion control potential for the system while providing a good source of organic nutrients and soil covering conditioner. The major NFT/S hedgerow species utilized are Desmodium rensonii, Flemingia macrophylla, Gliricidia sepium, Indigofera tyesmani, Leucaena sp. and Calliandra sp.

Simple Agro-Livestock Technology (SALT 2)

This technology is a variation of the SALT 1 technology with a heavy emphasis on an animal component. In our SALT 2 model in the Philippines, half of the land is dedicated to agroforestry trees (mainly NFT/S) to be used solely as fodder for goats, while the other half is dedicated to food and income for the farming family. The main agroforestry species mentioned above for SALT 1 are primarily used in this system.

Sustainable Agroforest Land Technology (SALT 3)

Another variation of the SALT 1 technology is SALT 3 where a heavier emphasis is placed on small-scale reforestation for the farm family; this is a two-hectare model where one hectare is utilized for a regular SALT 1 project, while the remaining hectare is planted into a small, farmer-managed forest. The majority of the agroforestry species utilized in the reforestation aspect are NFT/S such as Albizia saman, Pterocarpus indicus, Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, and Leucaena diversifolia. However, a number of non-NFT/S are also used in this agroforestry model, including Swetinia macrophylla, Gmelina arborea and Eucalyptus spp.

Small Agrofruit Livelihood Technology (SALT 4)

A classification of trees which often escapes the attention of foresters are the fruit trees that serve as the building blocks of the SALT 4 technology. Working from the idea that some farmers would prefer fruit production over other commodities, SALT 4 integrates durian (Durio zibethinus), lansones (Lansium domesticum), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), mango (Mangifera indica), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), coffee (Coffea spp.) and calamansi (Citrus madurensis) into a half-hectare demonstration with high returns on investment. The majority of agroforestry fruit trees utilized here are non-NFT/S but are supported by the presence of N-fixing hedgerows for erosion control and soil fertility management.

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