The Imperata grasslands of tropical Asia: area, distribution, and typology
D. P. Garrity,M. Soekardi,M. van Noordwijk,R. de la Cruz,P. S. Pathak,H. P. M. Gunasena,N. van So,G. Huijun,Nik Muhamad Nik Ab. Majid +8 more
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In this paper, the authors generated estimates of the area of Imperata grasslands in tropical Asia, and suggested a typology of grasslands that may be useful to define the pathways toward appropriate land use intensification.Abstract:
The rehabilitation or intensified use of Imperata grasslands will require a much better understanding of their area, distribution, and characteristics We generated estimates of the area of Imperata grasslands in tropical Asia, and suggested a typology of Imperata grasslands that may be useful to define the pathways toward appropriate land use intensification We conclude that the area of Imperata grasslands in Asia is about 35 million ha This about 4% of the total land area The countries with the largest area of Imperata grasslands are Indonesia (85 million ha) and India (80 million ha) Those with the largest proportion of their surface area covered with Imperata are Sri Lanka (23%), the Philippines (17%), and Vietnam (9%) Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh evidently all have similar proportions of their land area infested with Imperata (about 3 to 4%) Malaysia (< 1%), Cambodia (1%), and the southern part of China (2%) have but a minor proportion of their total land area in Imperata The species was found widely distributed on the full range of soil orders It occupied both fertile (eg some of the Inceptisols and Andisols) and infertile soils (Ultisols and Oxisols) across a wide range of climates and elevations Imperata lands fall into four mapping scale-related categories: Mega-grasslands, itmacro-grasslands, meso-grasslands, and micro-grasslands The mega-grasslands are often referred to as ‘sheet Imperata’ They are the large contiguous areas of Imperata that would appear on small-scale maps of say 1:1,000,000 We propose that this basic typology be supplemented with a number of additional components that have a key influence on intensification pathways: land quality, market access, and the source of power for tillage The typology was applied in a case study of Indonesian villages in the vicinity of Imperata grasslands We propose an international initiative to map and derive a more complete and uniform picture of the area of the Imperata grasslands This should include selected studies to understand conditions at the local level These are critical to build the appreciation of change agents for the indigenous systems of resource exploitation, and how they relate to local needs, values and constraintsread more
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References
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Review of literature on Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel with particular reference to South East Asia
TL;DR: There remains much scope for improvement of control of Imperata cylindrica, particularly in development of methods appropriate for small scale farmers with limited resources.
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The practical reason of weeds in Indonesia: Peasant vs. state views ofImperata andChromolaena
TL;DR: In this paper, the state perceptions of two common weeds, Imperata cylindrica and Chromolaena odorata, were compared in four case study areas in Indonesia, and it was found that state perceptions vary according to the similarity between these weeds plants and the fallow period vegetation in any given system of cultivation.
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Imperata economics and policy
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider the balance between costs of conversion to other uses and the net benefits produced in economic growth, poverty alleviation, and protection of the environment, and examine the desirability and feasibility of policy intervention to promote carbon sequestration through Imperata grassland conversion to tree-based systems.
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Historical land use evolution in a tropical acid upland agroecosystem
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed land use change over a 40-year period for a key acid upland farming systems research site (8 km × 10 km) undergoing rapid transformation in Claveria, Mindanao, Philippines.