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for ethnobotanical research to identify promising species research plans is illustrated by research on the chitemene
(woody and herbaceous) for agroforestry systems and to system of shifting cultivation in the miombo woodland of
understand what is already known about these plants' inter- north east Zambia. The area is rich i -examples of indiaction with soil, animals, other crops, and their uses, genous knowledge as well as its dynamic application to
ownership, and management. Within the context of such technology innovation.
initiatives, women's knowledge, skills and interests can The classic chitemene system involves the felling and
change the content and approach of future agroforestry harvest of woody vegetation on a 1-5 hectare plot, followed
research and action programs to serve women and the rural by piling and burning the collect' i wood from the entire
population at large better, area on a sub-plot approximately one-fifth of the total
There is a tremendous depth of indigenous knowledge area. The combination of high heat and woody biomass
about particular traditional agroforestry systems under results in higher soil pH and fertility on the burned plot
very site-secific circumstances (von Maydell 1979; (Mansfield 1975). The crop rotation follows a six year
Fernandes and Nair 1986; Flores Paitan 1985; Brokensha et cycle beginning with finger millet, maize, cassava, and
al. 1983; Budowski 1983; Okafor 1981; Weber and Hoskins perennial sorghum intercropped with yams, gourds, pumpkin
1983; Clay 1983). Existing knowledge can span the full and cowpea on the periphery or on termite mounds. Groundrange of design and management considerations: site nuts are planted next, followed by cassava maturation and
selection, preparation and management; plant selection harvest, and two to four years of bean cultivation (Figure
and/or breeding; plant propagation; establishment and 11.4) after which the plot is left in woody fallow for
management; plant combinations and spatial arrangements; several years. Most households maintain at least four
plant-soil-water interactions; pest management; techno- fields in different stages of the cycle so as to produce
logies for processing and use of products; and market the full range of major crops (millet, groundnut, cassava,
conditions at local and regional levels. Men's and women's and beans) in any one year (Stollen 1983; Vedeld 1981; Haug
knowledge of these various aspects of traditional agro- 1981). The long term effects of this system on soil
forestry systems is often quite distinct and may require fertility vary with the length of the fallow with a trend
separate documentation and discussion (Hoskins 1979). toward shorter fallows and sharp declines in site
Existing and potential agroforestry systems include a productivity (Mansfield 1975).
particularly diverse array of species, both woody and An informal survey of the land users in the vicinity of
herbaceous, many of which are wild or only semi- the Misamfu Research Station revealed a wealth of informadomesticated thus far. In cases where agroforestry is not tion and opportunities for collaborative experiments on
well developed as such, the local people may still have a farmer-initiated innovations and farmer-defined lines of
wealth of knowledge about useful plant species, including research. The survey incorporated a user perspective,
source areas of superior parent material, the ecology of which included consultation with both men and w;men land
the plant habitat, compatibility with other plants, inter- users as clients, consideration of multiple uses, multiple
action with animals and insects, growth rate, method of users, and a sliding scale of analysis from region to plot
regeneration, and response to variation in site conditions with emphasis on landscape features and land use at the
and management practice. Women and men will often have farm and community level. The method and content of these
distinct skills and knowledge for use of natural vegetation consultations encouraged people to draw upon and explain
in forests and rangelands. They may each have different specific items from traditional bodies of knowledge, as
knowledge about the same plants and places, or their exper- well as their methods and rationale for developing or
ience may be divided by species or by ecosystem. adapting new technologies (Huxley et al. 1985; Mattson, in
Rural people can also play a key role as consumers in press).
deciding the criteria for the selection and improvement of Several points of information proved to be critical for
agroforestry germplasm and in judging the likelihood of the design of new agroforestry technologies for testing ondomesticating particular species. Women's knowledge as farm or on-station and for agroforestry research planning
consumers and processors of many tree products should at the Misamfu station.
figure strongly in any user-focused program of germplasm First, many farmers are actively engaged in experimenselection and improvement (Hoskins 1983). nation with mounding as a way of incorporating plant bioThe incorporation of both men's and women's knowledge, mass (usually grass, with some tree and shrub parts) into
experience, and experimental initiatives into agroforestry the soil. The mounding of loose topsoil over plant biomass