Spatial Analysis

          Besides the MCE, I have created other maps in order to analyze the suitability of alley farming completely. Soil texture relates to the yield and vegetation type. The layer of soil texture is categorized in coarse, medium, fine, several combinations of textures and organic. The soil mixed with different texture works better for the crops and trees in an alley farm, such as the coarse-medium-fine soil. I EDIT the mixtures of soil and BUFFER (with the width=3) the edited map. It indicates the areas with the soil textures available for an alley farm are in different areas in Africa.

soiltexbuff.rst


            Rainfall is an essential key to any kind of farming. Hence, I have to examine the annual rainfall in Africa. Alley farming can still practise in the low rainfall region (350--450 mm per year). I use the FUZZY operation to create a suitability map of rainfall. The suitable range is at the middle to lower part in Africa.

rainfuzz.rst


                  Vegetations are influenced by chemical and physical measures. I use EDIT to edit all regions that are in low or none physical and chemical deterioration. I find that most of the regions in Africa are not affected by physical and chemical reaction. It is suitable for alley farming. Forest, grassland and tree savanna occupy most areas in Africa. It implies that Africa is generally not threatened by the human development or exploitation.

            Phychemdet.rst


conclusion and suggestions

             After analyze in many aspects, I have a several suggestions for the vegetations type on alley farming. According to the precipitation, the upper and middle part of Africa are dry and arid. Some semi-desert plants should be planted in these regions. Among the tropical seeds species, acacia angustissima, calliandra calothyrsus and desmodium resonii are suitable for alley farming. Albizia lebbeck and Pithecellobium dulca are able to tolerate <500 mm mean annual precipitation. Acacia auriculiformis, acacia confusa and acacia koa are the examples of trees that can provide crop shades for the crops. Some species offer organic matter for fertilizer and mulch, such as Erythrina berteroana and Gliricidia sepium.

               Livestock manure fertilizes the dry soil in Africa. In turn, the livestock is fed by the foliage. The livestocks feed depends on the acceptance of animals and the tree species. Hence, the sub- Saharan area, the moist savanna zone is a good location of alley farming because it is better for the short duration plants.

                Although alley farming system seems to be a resolution of the agricultural problems in Africa, there are still some barriers for alley farming system. The low precipitaion in most area of Africa affects the growth of the trees and crops. The competition of water is between the trees and crops. Alley farming produces lots of livestock manure, but it does not replenish phosphorus and potassium that contraints the soil in Africa.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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