Agroforestry Systems最新文献

Traditional agroforestry on agricultural land was common in the past in Central Europe. However, much less is known about agroforestry on forested land, especially because it was often banned by forestry authorities during the 20th century. We used data from the so-called stable cadastre to map the occurrence of agroforestry uses (litter raking, hay cutting and forest grazing) on forested land in the mid-19th century in Moravia (eastern part of the Czech Republic, ca. 27,000 km²) in high spatial resolution. We combined machine learning algorithms and logistic models to reveal which environmental, land use and forest management factors could be linked to the occurrence of individual agroforestry uses. Results showed that agroforestry on forested land was very common in the 19th century: only 9.2% of townships with forests had no agroforestry uses. The distribution of agroforestry uses was clearly connected to environmental factors and to the availability of agricultural products that agroforestry uses were meant to supplement (e.g. hay cutting in forests was the most common in townships with large forests and few grasslands). However, the ubiquity of some uses (especially litter raking) made it more difficult to arrive at straightforward conclusions. In addition, we discussed the limitations inherent in the stable cadastre and how these might influence the interpretation of the results.

Agroforestry is recommended as a more sustainable practice in areas with increased population pressure and land scarcity. Several factors limit farmers’ ability to make decisions regarding agroforestry practices. Considering this, the current study was conducted in the Sodo Zuria district of the Wolaita Zone to determine the determinants of farmers' adoption of agroforestry practices. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select an optimal sample size of 173 respondents from the three study sites. A structured interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data from the respondents. The checklist was used to collect qualitative data from non-sampled respondents in the community through focus group discussions, personal observations, and key informant interviews. The study's conceptual framework was based on the theory of planned behavior. The collected data were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics, such as the chi-square test and the t-test. According to the logistic regression analysis, the adoption of agroforestry practices was positively influenced by land size, farmland erosion, education, awareness, and extension services, which should be considered in all initiatives to promote agroforestry as a strategy to achieve integrated rural development in the study areas.

Naturally or artificially created diverse vegetation habitats often promote natural enemies of crop pests. The abundance of natural enemies increases with response to increasing habitat complexity at various spatial scales. Against this backdrop, we assessed the contribution of shade trees to conserve beneficial predatory and parasitoid arthropods at local scale in a subtropical tea agroecosystem in Bangladesh. Arthropods viz., predators and parasitoids were captured using Malaise traps in plots with shade trees and in those without shade trees having three different densities of tea bushes due to naturally created gaps (large-gap, small-gap and control). The number of arthropods captured in each plot corresponded to shade-tree and tea-bush densities, such that arthropod abundance in the shade-tree plot was twice that of the control plot, which had similar tea-bush density but no shade trees. Predators were least abundant in the large-gap plot, which had the lowest tea-bush density and no shade-trees, while 2.4–3.8 folds predators were captured in the control and shade-tree plots. There was a negative correlation between mean light intensity and number of predators in the four plots. Similar trends were observed for parasitoids. Relative abundance of predatory Staphylinidae was more than twice in the shade-tree and small-gap plots compared to control and large-gap plots. Relative abundance of parasitoid Ichneumonidae was ranked as small-gap > shade-tree > control > large-gap plots. Our results suggested that shade trees may help conserve and promote beneficial arthropods such as predators and parasitoids in tea agroecosystems.

The application of traditional plant pesticides in agriculture is very common among the tribes of Nagaland, India. In most of the districts, the local communities are strictly restricted from using chemical pesticides, and hence, the farmers rely on organic and plant-based pesticides to control varieties of seasonal pests manifested in their crop fields. Jhum cultivation is a traditional agroforestry system practiced by the Naga tribes of India, especially by the Angami tribe. Varieties of vegetables, fruits, and other economically important plant species are cultivated in Jhum agroforestry. To maintain the organic nature of this farming method, diverse plant species with unique formulations were used for the management of crop pests. Two types of Jhum cultivation were recorded. Both were related to slashing and burning forests for agriculture. Twenty-one vegetable species and twelve other economically important plant species were recorded from the Jhum fields. Manifestations of 24 pests/ diseases were found in the studied area and 10 different parts of 56 plant species belonging to 33 families were used to control these pests/ diseases. Eight unique methods of pesticide formulation were recorded. Pesticidal plant-related data were analyzed through quantitative tools like use value (UV), informants’ consensus factor (ICF), and family use value (FUV). A traditional and unique plant-based pest control system in agroforestry was obtained from the study which will help in formulating modern biopesticides. It will transmit knowledge of traditional organic agriculture to the modern agriculture system.

Graphical abstract

Harar (Terminalia chebula) and soybean (Glycine max) are the potential tree and agricultural crops of subtropical region of Himachal Pradesh, India, however the potential of these crops under agroforestry system has not been explored both from ecological and economical point of view. The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of harar–soybean combination on soil chemical properties and to analyse the economics of the agroforestry system as compared to the open system. Soybean was grown under harar trees as per the recommended package of practices. Before sowing and after harvesting, soil samples were collected from four directions (East, West, North and South) at three distances (1, 2 and 3 m) from harar trees and open cropping system (sole soybean) for determining chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon) and nutrient dynamics (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). In addition, the soil at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) under trees at 2 m distance and in open was analyzed by GC–MS before and after cropping for the presence of allelochemicals that may affect crop yield. The economics of tree-crop combination was worked out and compared with the sole cropping system. The soil chemical properties and available nutrients in soil exhibited maximum values in the north direction. Except available phosphorus content, values of all the studied properties of soil increased with an increase in the distance of soybean crop from harar. It was also observed that values of soil chemical properties and nutrient contents increased significantly after intercropping in comparison to those before intercropping soybean. A substantial increase in soil properties was observed under the agroforestry system over the sole cropping system before sowing and after harvesting soybean. It was revealed that allelochemicals viz., octadecanoic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and phthalic acid which do exist in harar trees were also detected in soil under the canopy of harar trees. The total cost of cultivation (Rs. 45,028.49 ha⁻¹), gross returns (Rs. 101,937.78 ha⁻¹), net returns (Rs. 56,909.29 ha⁻¹) and benefit–cost ratio (2.26) were higher under the agroforestry system (harar + soybean) over sole soybean cropping. Improvement in soil health, soybean yield and higher economic returns indicated that combination of harar and soybean can be a viable option for farmers of subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh for the upliftment of their socioeconomic status.

A four year field investigation was carried out in sub-temperate conditions of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (India) to study the performance of Napier bajra hybrid at variable levels of nitrogen under Eucalyptus tereticornis trees plantation. Significantly better growth as well as green and dry forage yields was obtained under no shade (open) condition. Tree shade reduced the herbage yield and economic returns appreciably. Herbage yield increased with increasing doses of nitrogen upto 125% recommended nitrogen. Quality parameters i.e. crude protein, ADF, NDF, nitrate and oxalate contents in forage were higher under tree shade conditions. Crude protein, nitrate and oxalate contents increased with increasing doses of nitrogen but reduction in ADF and NDF contents were observed at higher doses of nitrogen.

Modern silvoarable agroforestry systems (AFS) with short rotation coppice strips (CS) are considered as a potential measure to increase structural diversity in agricultural landscapes and to promote biodiversity while simultaneously producing arable crops and woody biomass. However, studies investigating the actual potential of these novel land use systems to promote biodiversity are scarce. We therefore investigated the importance of a silvoarable AFS with different CS variants as habitat for breeding birds on an experimental site in northern Germany, which was studied several times over a 16-year period since its establishment. In addition, the habitat function and quality of CS was compared with hedgerows. The results show that establishing CS on arable land creates additional habitats for shrub and tree breeding species and thus increases species numbers and territory densities. Tree harvest resulted in a decrease in species numbers and densities. However, since Aspen rows (for timber production) or native woody species were retained during harvesting in some CS, suitable nesting opportunities for some species remained. A sharp decline in Skylark territories was observed within the open land of the AFS, from nine breeding pairs in the year after establishment (2009) to only two breeding pairs each in 2022 and 2023. Compared to CS, hedgerows were more species-rich and had much higher territory densities. We conclude that the integration of CS into croplands can promote some species of woody habitats, especially if measures such as the integration of trees of different heights or native woody species and sectional harvesting are implemented. However, CS still clearly lag behind hedgerows in terms of their habitat quality. Furthermore, the establishment of CS may have negative effects on threatened open land species like the Skylark. The requirements of these species should therefore be considered when planning AFS. Establishing AFS with CS could especially be an option in cleared, intensively used agricultural landscapes, where CS could represent a trade-off between the promotion of birds and agricultural production.

Improvements in animal husbandry environment have resulted in major benefits to dairy farming in tropical regions. The aim was to evaluate the effect of changes in sun/shade regimes—restricted shade (RSR), moderate shading (MSR), and intense shading (ISR)—on the behavior of crossbred dairy cows. Massai grass with eucalyptus trees were used in the system. The experiment was conducted at Brazil from 2017 to 2018. Eight dairy cows were observed in each regime over three days by seasons every 30 min from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The behavioral variables considered were localization, posture, and activity. Microclimatic variables were studied and hourly averages were calculated for seasons. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete blocks with split-plots; evaluation times were allocated to subplots and sequential days of analysis were considered replications in time. Multivariate analysis (principal component analysis) was performed using Excel. The results showed that the RSR had a higher proportion of idle cows, which was associated with a higher intensity of radiation (1.2 MJ m⁻² h⁻¹). The MSR and ISR differed in radiation levels by 17% and 58%, respectively. The opposite was true when shade was available, as cows performed activities such as grazing more frequently, mainly in the morning shift (difference of 20.7% in the RSR for the shade regime). The behavior of crossbred dairy cows subjected to climatic stress environments was benefitted from microclimatic conditions provided by trees. The provision at least moderate shade around the paddocks, alleviates the stress and regulates the vital activities of the animals.

Land use and management practices have a significant impact on soil microbial populations and community composition, thereby influencing ecosystem processes. Soil microbial and biochemical indicators serve as highly sensitive tools for assessing the effects of land use systems. In this study, we investigated soils under ten different land use systems in the Central Himalayas, India, including natural forests dominated by oak (Quercus incana), deodar (Cedrus deodara), or pine (Pinus roxburghii) trees, orchards dominated by apple trees, and crop-based systems in uplands and valleys. We examined phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, soil enzymes, Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (RISA) profiles, microbial biomass carbon and organic carbon as affected by land use. The results revealed that forest soils had significantly higher levels of soil enzymes compared to agricultural soils. Microbial biomass carbon and organic carbon showed a close relationship with the PLFA profiles across different land uses. Gram-positive bacteria (15:0 iso, 16:1 iso G, 16:1 iso H), gram-negative bacteria (10:0 2OH, 12:0 3OH, 17:0 cyc, 19:0cyc 8c, 18:1ω7c11), fungi (18:1ω9c), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (16:1) exhibited higher relative abundance in forest systems, whereas gram-positive PLFA markers (C15:0 anteiso, C17:0 iso, C17:0 anteiso) were more prominent in agro-ecosystems. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the PLFA profiles demonstrated that the microbial communities in deodar forest soils were compositionally distinct from other forest soils, while the cultivated soils were grouped together and exhibited higher similarity, except for the organic farming soil. The correlation between PLFA profiles and soil enzymes, microbial biomass carbon, and organic carbon providesinsights into the impact of different land use and management practices on soil microbial health and, consequently, soil health.

Deforestation for livestock remains one of Mexico’s key socio-environmental problems. The municipality of Hopelchén is a deforestation hotspot despite being part of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, the largest forestland on the Yucatan Peninsula. Livestock are part of the local culture and economy, and there is potential for the development of traditional and improved silvopastoral (SP) systems. It is therefore important to identify SP elements in the local livestock landscape and explore the reasons or limitations for their adoption. The quality and quantity of SP elements in a landscape depend on practices carried out by each rancher throughout the livestock production cycle. We aimed to identify local livestock practices that result in SP landscape elements and explain their impact on forest cover in Hopelchén. We identified seven SP elements, six traditional and one improved, being forest strips combined with live or dead fences the most common. Stand-alone live fences are the least common, due to negative local perceptions about their construction and maintenance. Scattered trees are present at very low densities to prevent shading of grass, while forest fragments are maintained as a source of timber. The full potential of traditional SP elements is not being reached as they are mainly used for protection and construction, without exploiting their use as fodder and live fences. Only four producers have alley grazing, the only improved SP element found. To prevent further forest degradation and deforestation, more integrated management and use of forest and tree cover in the livestock landscape should be encouraged.