Inga species and alley-cropping alternative to slash-and- burn agriculture

As argued above, more-durable mulch species are desirable; but mixtures are feasible and might include a proportion of readily-decomposable foliage species such as Gliricidia sepium , which is very well-known throughout Central and South America . The research project reported here has trials of pepper ( Piper nigrum ) grown on living supports of this species, between hedgerows of Inga . The pepper receives no agro-chemical inputs whatsoever and, in a weed-free environment, appears to be thriving.