Abstract

A study conducted on the fencing patterns prevailing in home gardens of the village ecosystems of Kerala (India) has identified three types of fences: where plants are the structural materials and there are live fence, dead fences and mixed fences. Variation in fencing patterns can be seen depending on the agroclimatic zones and availability of fencing materials. While dead fences with bamboo branches are predominant in the low rainfall dry agroclimatic zone, live fences are the most common type inthe Kole (coastal, non-marshy area) of the state. Mixed fencing is most prevalent type in the Central and Pokkali (coastal, marshy and saline water incursion area) zones. Fences are mainly protective in function in the dry zone while in the Kole zone, they are either productive in nature or structures to delineate the farm boundary. Mixed fencing in the Central zone is preferred as it is both productive and protective in nature. About 68 plant species are encountered in live and mixed