Agroforestry Systems最新文献

Non timber forest products(NTFPs) play a significant role in the livelihoods of forest fringe people in the dry deciduous forest region of West Bengal. This study investigates the economic contribution of NTFPs and the socioeconomic factors influencing household dependence (share of NTFP income) on it. A multistage sampling approach was employed, with data collected from 133 households across six villages using semi-structured questionnaires. The study revealed that forest products contribute significantly to household income (33.10%), second only to agricultural wage labor (34.36%). Sal leaves appeared as the most economically significant NTFP, accounting for 62.34% of total forest income. Analysis across income terciles demonstrated an inverse relationship between total household income and forest dependence, with low-income households exhibiting greater reliance on forest resources. Multiple regression models identified education, household size, and alternative income sources as significant determinants of forest income and dependence. These findings underscore the need for policies that promote livelihood diversification and sustainable forest management to enhance community resilience and ensure the long-term ecological integrity of the region.

The cultivation of maize and beans in agroforestry systems can be a sustainable strategy, however, the reduction in available solar radiation may pose a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate solar radiation availability, the extinction coefficient, and radiation interception efficiency, as well as to quantify precipitation deficits and analyze crop growth and productivity under different shading conditions. Experiments were conducted using a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement (2 × 4, two maize cultivars, BRS 015FB and BRS 019TL, and four tree distances: 1.3, 2.1, 2.1, and 1.3 m) for maize, and a monofactorial design (7 tree distances: 1.3, 1.7, 2.1, 2.5 m center, 2.1, 1.7, and 1.3 m) for beans. We evaluated the crop coefficient and efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation interception of the species, as well as plant growth and yield. The results show that at noon, solar radiation is reduced by 50.7% for maize and 54.9% for beans. Maize had a lower extinction coefficient and higher efficiency in intercepting photosynthetically active radiation compared to beans. The precipitation deficit was more pronounced in the 2022/23 crop season, with 85 mm during the bean cycle and 118 mm during the maize cycle. For maize, productivity was not affected by tree distances, while for beans, the highest productivity occurred in the central rows between the trees.

Indigenous knowledge systems have long underpinned sustainable agroforestry, yet their academic visibility remains fragmented across disciplines and regions. This study presents a systematic bibliometric analysis of 798 peer-reviewed articles (2000–2024) retrieved from the Scopus database, focusing on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) within agroforestry and silvopastoral systems. Utilizing the bibliometrix R package, we examined authorship structures, publication outlets, keyword evolution, citation trajectories, and patterns of international collaboration. Findings reveal a pronounced upward trend in scientific production, with an annual growth rate of 7.6% and 45.6% of publications featuring international co-authorship, underscoring the domain’s rising global relevance. Agroforestry Systems, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, and the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine emerged as the most influential journals. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic mapping reveal a shift in agroforestry research from domestication and land-use practices toward integrated frameworks emphasizing biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, food security, and Indigenous knowledge, underscoring its role as a multifunctional system for sustainability. Citation analysis highlights the multidisciplinary nature of the field, where seminal works draw on ethnobotany and sustainability science to emphasize Indigenous practices as nature-based solutions. Moreover, regional analyses reveal strong contributions from Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, alongside notable research gaps in Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. This bibliometric synthesis not only charts the intellectual contours of indigenous agroforestry research but also supports the need for epistemologically inclusive and co-produced approaches. Integrating Indigenous knowledge holders within scientific communities is essential to inform policy, enhance agroecosystem design, and advance global sustainability goals.

Trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF-AL) are essential for the livelihoods of rural communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, yet their diversity, use, and management are poorly documented, particularly in Mongala province. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of TOF-AL species, quantify their ethnobotanical use values, and analyze the management strategies of local communities. We conducted ethnobotanical surveys and tree inventories in 900 agricultural plots across 45 villages in the three territories of Mongala province. The data were analyzed using diversity indices, the total ethnobotanical use value (TUV_s) index, and hierarchical clustering analysis to classify species based on their use values. We identified 136 TOF-AL species on agricultural land in Mongala, with a Shannon diversity index of 3.544. The results show that more than 62% of the total abundance is concentrated in ten most common species. The clustering analysis revealed three distinct clusters of 23 privileged species: Cluster 1 (high value for energy and construction), Cluster 2 (high value for commerce and crafts), and Cluster 3 (multifunctional species with high value for food, medicine, and commerce). The high abundance of Cluster 3 species and the rarity of Cluster 2 species indicate that use value directly influences the conservation status of the species. Our results show that the diversity and abundance of TOF-AL are the result of specific management choices guided by local ethnobotanical knowledge. Species that provide continuous and non-destructive benefits are actively conserved by farmers, while those with high commercial value are threatened by intense harvesting pressure. This study calls for the adoption of differentiated management strategies to ensure the sustainability of resources. It suggests targeted reforestation programs and economic incentives for threatened species (Cluster 2) and the strengthening of existing management practices for abundant species (Clusters 1 and 3), underscoring the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into agroforestry conservation.

Gnetum africanum, a nutritionally significant leafy vegetable across Central and West Africa, is sourced from both natural forest ecosystems and managed home gardens. To understand the impact of the cultivation environment on the nutritional profile of G. africanum leaves, we conducted a comparative analysis of their proximate composition and micronutrient content, harvested from these contrasting environmental settings. Our quantitative analyses reveal divergent nutritional characteristics associated with the source ecosystem. Specifically, forest-derived leaves exhibited significantly higher levels of dry matter (92.43 ± 0.04%), total ash (8.65 ± 0.07%), crude fibre (9.68 ± 0.07%), and total carbohydrate (50.99 ± 0.02%) (mean ± SEM). Conversely, home garden samples showed higher moisture content (8.40 ± 0.03%), crude protein (24.42 ± 0.12%), total fat (3.82 ± 0.07%), and consequently, a higher energy value (329.16 ± 0.27 kcal/100 g). Furthermore, forest-sourced leaves were enriched in key minerals, notably calcium (392.07 ± 0.40 mg/100 g), sodium (101.53 ± 0.19 mg/100 g), and potassium (795.65 ± 0.25 mg/100 g). In contrast, home garden samples showed higher concentrations of iron (36.29 ± 0.18 mg/100 g) and vitamins, including vitamin A (658.45 ± 0.18 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (71.50 ± 1.36 mg/100 g). Our findings unveil the ecosystem-dependent nutritional quality of a key African leafy vegetable. Given the demonstrated nutritional advantages of forest-derived G. africanum samples, our results emphasise the critical importance of conserving natural forest habitats to safeguard the availability of nutrient-dense plant resources. Our study provides crucial insights for nutritional security and highlights the ecological underpinnings of food quality in non-domesticated food sources.

Coffee is Uganda’s most important cash crop, commonly grown in agroforestry systems that offer shade, food, timber, and microclimate regulation. However, shade trees may compete with coffee for water and nutrients. This study characterized root distribution and water use of Robusta coffee and shade trees. A randomized complete block design was used with three treatments: coffee under Albizia coriaria (ACS), coffee under Ficus natalensis (FNCS), and open sun coffee (COSS), each replicated three times. Soil moisture was monitored using a Diviner 2000, and fine root distribution assessed through soil sampling up to 100 cm depth at varying distances from coffee plants (≤ 50, 51–199, and ≥ 200 cm). ImageJ software was used to measure root length from which root length density (RLD) and specific root length (SRL) were computed per depth layer. Significant differences in RLD were observed (p < 0.05), highest in COSS (0.11 cm/cm³) and lowest in FNCS (0.06 cm/cm³). Most fine roots were concentrated in the top 20 cm. Horizontally, FNCS showed differentiation, with coffee roots mainly at 51–199 cm, and F. natalensis roots at ≤ 50 cm. FNCS had the highest SRL (1063.9 cm/g), and ACS the lowest (597.8 cm/g), though differences were not statistically significant. Vertically, F. natalensis roots dominated the 80–100 cm layer, while coffee roots were concentrated at 20–40 cm. Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) varied with season and shade tree species but differences among systems were not significant. The findings indicate competition for water between coffee and shade trees, emphasizing the importance of shade tree management to reduce below-ground competition.

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) is a conifer widely distributed in the western European Mediterranean Basin, which provides important resources, such as resin, pulpwood, wood, pellets and bark. These forests are seriously threatened by decline, which reduces the area of maritime pines in the Mediterranean Basin every year. Different crops, such as vineyards and rainfed cereals, are often established adjacent to these pine forests. The objective of this work is to explore for the first time the bacterial and fungal diversity of the soils of pine forests and surrounding crops, in order to establish a relationship with the presence or absence of tree decline. Soil samples were taken from three different areas in the south of the province of Burgos (Spain), where pine forests, vineyards and rainfed cereals were grown in the surrounding area, and the microbial diversity present was analyzed by metabarcoding (bacterial 16S and fungal ITS). The main bacterial phyla reported in pine forests were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and the fungal phylum was Ascomycota. With regard to bacterial families and the different plant cover where they were found, the greatest co-occurrence was found in areas where there were diseased pine forests, unlike what occurred with fungal genera. The highest alpha diversity of bacterial families was reported in the soils of diseased pine forests and surrounding vineyards. While the highest alpha diversity for fungal genera was found in rainfed cereals associated with diseased pine forests. The bacterial families Hyphomonadaceae and Koribacteraceae and the fungal genus Volutella, found in the soils of diseased pine forests, include plant pathogens that could explain the presence of decline. In the soils of healthy pine forests was reported the presence of bacterial families such as Azospirillaceae and Bacillaceae, as well as the fungal genera Amphinema, Emmonsiellopsis and Harmoniella, possibly related to the absence of diseases in the trees. In the soils of diseased pine forests, ectomycorrhizal fungi were reported as the main functional niche, while in the surrounding crops, plant pathogenic and saprotrophic fungi were found. Therefore, the soil microbial diversity present in pine forests and surrounding crops could contribute to explain the presence or absence of tree decline, along with the study of other factors, such as abiotic conditions or pest infestations. The study of microbial diversity, along with other analyzes, could help prevent the onset of disease.

Shaded agroforestry systems with low levels of diversity are generally conceived as having less complex structures and being dominated by species for market, while systems with greater levels of diversity are thought to have more complex structures and be dominated by species for family consumption. The present study, carried out in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco, evaluated the impact of management of diversity of cacao agroforestry systems on their structure and socioecological roles of tree species present. We carried out extensive interviews and ethnobotanical transects in cacao agroforestry systems with low and high levels of diversity in order to characterize agroecosystem management as well as uses and socioecological roles of their tree vegetation. Using the data for vegetation, we calculated a variety of indices regarding tree vegetation structure. Management, uses, and socioecological roles of vegetation were found not to vary significantly between the two levels of biodiversity. Both systems are dominated by multifunctional, multi-role species. Biodiversity is molded by the history of the systems, and by farmers’ past needs and decisions as well as their current needs. None of the structural indices calculated varied according to level of biodiversity, and yield of cacao trees was influenced only by the number of cacao trees. The low ratio between diversity and other characteristics of vegetation indicates a need to develop a more complex theory regarding the relationship between agroforestry structure and biodiversity, by which biodiversity is not the only characteristic of vegetation determining the socioecological functionality of agroecosystems.

Food forestry might be a sustainable complement to agricultural systems in the temperate biome. These systems need to address ongoing challenges, such as biodiversity decline, water quality issues, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, while examples of temperate food forestry exist, a comprehensive overview of literature is lacking, limiting insight into how to grow and maintain these forests, as well as the potential of these forests in addressing environmental and social challenges. This study conducts a systematic scoping literature review to collate the existing knowledge on temperate food forestry. Topics addressed in this paper include the challenges and benefits of food forestry, the different phases of establishment, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge. The paper concludes with a research agenda, highlighting the need for more research into mature food forests, including harvesting practices and revenue models; more research in temperate climates in the southern hemisphere, including South America, Australia and New Zealand; and a stronger focus on the integration of Indigenous knowledge in food forestry to address agricultural challenges.

Temperate cropland agroforestry is gaining increasing attention for its ecological benefits. In these systems, crops are expected to benefit from tree nutrient inputs, mainly as leaf litter. To better understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of tree leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release in agroforestry systems, we conducted in situ litter bag incubations on the soil surface at two study sites in Germany. Each site comprised an alley-cropping agroforestry system and adjacent open cropland without trees, managed identically to crop rows of its corresponding agroforestry system. Sampling positions were established in tree rows and at 1 m, 7 m, and 24 m from trees into crop rows, and in open cropland. Our results showed similar mass loss patterns across sampling positions, but annual differences in litter decomposition and release of C and P. N was initially immobilized and subsequently released only after about 50% of litter mass was lost. By the end of incubation period, N release was positively associated with decomposition rates at all sites and years. Overall, our findings show that trees in our cropped alleys do not strongly influence litter decomposition and nutrient release. Therefore, reducing fertilizer quantities in response to tree leaf litter inputs may become easier to implement if spatial distributions of tree litter and crop demand are known. Furthermore, our findings on the temporal dynamics of nutrient release from leaf litter may help match temporal demands of crops to tree-derived nutrient inputs.