Agroforestry Systems最新文献

This research aimed to assess carbon (C) stocks (living biomass, soil and detritus) in silvopastoral systems (SPS), the C density in living biomass (CLB) at the farm level, technological adoption and milk yields in an integrated fashion in small dairy farms in the Andean-Amazon region of Colombia. Technological adoption was assessed on a scale of 0 to 100% across 26 points. Milk yields from the top 10% highest-yielding farms were used for gap analysis. The lactation period and weaning age were considered as herd management variables. The study included 30 farms classified as high, medium or low SPS coverage. The average farm size was 9.1 ± 0.8 ha⁻¹ where live fences (LF) and woodlots (WL) were the main SPS. The total C were 152.0 ± 13.8 Mg·ha-¹, 152.2 ± 10.3 Mg·ha-¹, and 73.2 ± 4.4 Mg·ha-¹ in WL, LF and pastures. Farms with high SPS coverage (10.8 ± 1.1%) presented a CLB density of 8.6 ± 2.0 Mg·ha⁻¹, 3.4 and 43 times higher than those with medium and low coverage, respectively. Average milk yield was 3190.1 ± 237.5 kg fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹, with the top 10% of farms having 6056.7 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Farms with low SPS coverage had the smallest yield gap (1221.4 ± 290 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹) but also a lower average yield (2883.0 ± 290 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹·yr⁻¹). The farms averaged 48.9 ± 2.1% in the technological adoption level, 271.5 ± 8.4 days of lactation period, and 129.3 ± 17.8 days of weaning age, with no significant differences across SPS levels. An integrated approach to jointly increase technology adoption, herd management, and the enhancement of SPS coverage at the farm level can reduce the yield gap while enhancing C stocks.

The importance of agroforestry systems is increasing as they promote sustainable agricultural practices to address climate change and food security. The study aimed to assess the potential of tree species as feed ingredients for dairy ruminants. Leaves from five tree species—Fraxinus excelsior L. (common ash), Morus nigra L. (black mulberry), Robinia pseudoacacia L. (locust tree), Salix babylonica L. (weeping willow) and U. minor Mill. (field elm)—were sampled in three different times in spring–summer season 2023 on a farm in Northern Italy. Proximate composition, analyses along with in vitro analyses, were conducted to determine net energy of lactation (NE_L) by gas production and fibre digestibility (NDFD). Results found wide variability among species for chemical and nutritive value. Fibre content (% DM) was highest in U. minor (57.2) and lowest in M. nigra (34.5), whereas crude protein (% DM) was highest in R. pseudoacacia (22.4), followed by S. babylonica and M. nigra (20.3, on average), U. minor (15.1) and F. excelsior (14.0). Morus nigra had the highest NDFD (75.3%) and NE_L (5.66 MJ/kg DM). Intermediate NE_L values were recorded for F. excelsior and S. babylonica (4.50 MJ/kg DM, on average), the lowest values in U. minor and R. pseudoacacia (3.90 MJ/kg DM, on average). The study indicated that most of the examined tree species can be used as dietary supplements due to their nutritional properties as they maintain their quality throughout the growing season. Morus nigra emerges as the most promising species due to its superior nutritive value.

The rapid decline of tropical rainforests, particularly in the Congo Basin, is predominantly driven by small-scale subsistence agricultural expansion. Tropical agroforestry, particularly coffee agroforestry, is seen as a potential way to balance agricultural productivity with biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, despite some possible trade-offs. However, substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding these trade-offs within and across coffee systems, especially in Africa. Here, we used a stratified random sampling design and general additive models to examine the relationship between yield, biodiversity, and carbon stocks in four coffee systems in the DR Congo (monocultures, cultivated agroforestry, wild agroforestry, and forest coffee) based on 79 inventoried plots. Our results demonstrate that coffee yields in cultivated agroforestry systems are not significantly different from monocultures, in contrast to lower yields in wild coffee agroforestry due to excessive shading (> 50%). Our study also shows the irreplaceable value of forest coffee systems in terms of biodiversity and carbon sequestration, suggesting that monoculture and agroforestry systems cannot serve as direct substitutes. Forest coffee systems contain three times more total organic carbon (TOC) than the agroforestry systems, which in turn contain almost double the amount of TOC as the coffee monocultures. Our findings revealed a steep decline in woody species diversity, including large changes in community composition, and carbon stocks from forest coffee to agroforestry, with comparatively smaller reductions from agroforestry to monocultures. On the one hand, our study identified convex relationships between woody species diversity and robusta coffee yield, as well as between carbon stocks and robusta yield. On the other hand, synergies are found between carbon stocks and woody plant diversity. One can thus say that coffee agroforestry systems allow the preservation of part of the biodiversity and carbon stocks while also supporting farmer’s livelihood. However, applying EUDR guidelines may hinder the adoption of these agroforestry systems due to the regulation’s inherent binary classification of forest versus non-forest.

This study assesses the economic and technical feasibility of two resin extraction methods, Bore Hole Tapping (BH) and Bark Streak Tapping (BS), applied to Pinus brutia in the Korudağ Forest, Türkiye. Resin production from 758 trees was analyzed over six months to compare setup costs, operational expenses, labor costs, and yields. Additionally, a feasibility study involving 2500 trees was conducted to evaluate market, technical, and financial aspects. Results show that both methods incur high production costs, making resin production economically unviable under current market conditions. The BH method is particularly unfeasible due to significant initial investments and high operating costs. In contrast, the BS method, with lower costs, approaches viability at historically higher resin prices. Sensitivity analyses suggest that the BS method could become feasible with a significant rise in market prices. However, resin production from Pinus brutia remains economically unfeasible at present.

Most of the Bauchi State's inhabitants face environmental and socio-economic challenges. Agroforestry trees can help these people by providing valuable environmental benefits such as windbreaks, soil improvement, shade, or additional income through fruits and medicine (services and products). The study aimed to identify the most important use of tree species by the farmers and their tree preferences, examine agroforestry practices on their farms, and spot the most preferred locations of trees on their farms. The fieldwork was conducted in both lowlands and highlands of Bauchi state. In total, 83 farmers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The results showed that farmers mostly use and prefer fruit trees (74 and 87%), followed by medicinal trees (66 and 18%) in lowlands and highlands, respectively. They also use trees for fencing and shading. Adansonia digitata was the most preferred species in the lowlands, while Parkia biglobosa was in the highlands. Scattered trees were the most used agroforestry practice (79 and 84%) in both the lowlands and the highlands. The bush field and the village field (47 and 37%) were the most preferred locations of trees on farms. In the future, we suggest that policymakers and extensionists should support research and improvement of varieties of the most preferred fruit/food tree species and develop and introduce improved disease-resistant and pest-tolerant native varieties.

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray plays an important role in tropical agroforestry systems due to its ability to recycle phosphorus. Adapted to phosphorus-limited conditions, T. diversifolia has developed strategies to acquire this nutrient, including symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi that facilitate phosphorus mobilization. This occurs through rhizosphere acidification and the secretion of low-molecular-weight internal organic acids. However, research focuses on organic acids in isolation, overlooking the contributions of root characteristics, mycorrhizal abundance and hyphal growth. This study examined the content of low molecular weight internal organic acids, root characteristics, and mycorrhizal associations, and their role in phosphorus acquisition and impact on shoot biomass in three T. diversifolia genotypes. Differences (p < 0.05) in internal organic acid content were observed in all T. diversifolia genotypes. In the Costa Rican genotype, succinic, malic, and fumaric acids in leaf tissue were associated (p < 0.05) with root length and root length density, while in the Mexican genotype, citric and fumaric acids were linked (p < 0.05) to the number of roots. Succinic and citric acids in root tips were associated (p < 0.05) with the number of stems in the Indonesian genotype, while in the Costa Rican genotype, these acids were linked (p < 0.05) to specific root length. The Mexican genotype had a higher specific root length density (p < 0.05), likely allowing it to efficiently capture nutrients and better acclimate to a phosphorus limited environment. The Mexican genotype had a greater number of mycelial entry points (p < 0.05) and mycelium length density (p < 0.05) and allocated its shoot biomass to fewer but larger branches.

The enrichment with Trifolium repens L. (white clover), could fulfill an ecological and productive function in humid-temperate silvopastoral systems in South America. The objective was to describe the morphogenetic, structural and functional changes of two white clover large-leafed cultivars under simultaneous shading and phosphorus shortage during establishment. A pot trial designed in 3 randomized complete blocks was carried out in sub-subdivided plots. The main plot was the shading treatment (4 levels: full sun = 0% and 30%, 60% and 90% of shading (shade), sub-plots were 2 cultivars (Junín and El Lucero) and sub-sub-plots, were 2 phosphorous conditions (without P− and with added P+). At final harvest the number of primary and secondary stolons and the length of their internodes, the number of leaves and length of petioles were counted. The light threshold was on 60% of shading; mean total daily PAR > 15.3 mol m⁻² day⁻¹. This light threshold was the same under P+ or P−. The number of stolons and length of internodes remained between full sun and 60% shade but the length of petioles increased. The lower number of expanding leaves was compensated by a lower number of senescent ones that mantained the living leaves and leaf area of the plants up to 60% of shading. P shortage did not limit the number of primary or secondary stolons, the number of leaves or petiole length, so the horizontal or vertical occupation was slightly affected. Both cultivars responded similarly. White clover would be a promising species for these systems.

In developing countries, households employ several livelihood strategies to earn income and meet their basic needs through homegarden agroforestry (HGAF) practices. The extent of HGAF benefits to household depends on farm and household characteristics. This study examined the effect of HGAF on household income and income diversification in southeastern Ethiopia, in reference to HGAF practices, household wealth status, farm size, and farm age. A total of 96 HGAF practitioners (48 traditional and 48 improved) were randomly selected. Data were collected through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and vegetation surveys. Data analysis for income accounting and income diversification was performed. The statistical data analysis was conducted using R version 4.3.0 software. Our result revealed that crops, HGAF, forests, other AF, livestock, non-farm, off-farm, and remittance were the primary sources of income for studied households. Homegarden AF income shared 36.5% and 25.3% of household income for improved and traditional HGAF practitioners, respectively. Improved HGAF practitioners earned by 41.9% more net annual HGAF income than traditional HGAF practitioners. Similarly, HGAF income increased significantly as household wealth status, farm size, and age increased. Income from HGAF strongly and positively related to food crop species richness and the least relation was observed with other herbaceous. The income diversification of HGAF practitioners was significantly influenced by household wealth status, farm size, and HGAF practices. Encouraging households to adopt HGAF by supporting them with improved agricultural technologies is critical for improving farmers’ livelihoods through income diversification in the study area and beyond.

Silvopastoral systems in temperate forests have been suggested as a viable alternative to the unregulated presence of livestock in these ecosystems. However, there is a lack of information regarding their long-term implementation in providing ecosystem services. Compared to excluding grazing, this study aimed at determining externalities and interactions between different ecosystem services through the effects of long-term (~ 25 years) implementation of a seasonal silvopastoral system on forage production, soil fertility, vegetation structure, and native plant abundance in a temperate forest in Mexico. The long-term implementation of a silvopastoral system favors the provision of provisioning, regulating, and supporting ecosystem services through increased forage production (+ 56%, P = 0.02), soil P content (+ 278%, P = 0.05), lower shrub and tree stratum (− 27 and − 70% respectively, P < 0.05) and lower topsoil bulk density (− 33%, P = 0.005). In addition, we found synergies between the herbaceous stratum with the soil’s total nitrogen (P = 0.03) and organic carbon content (P = 0.01). On the other hand, there were trade-offs between shrub and herbaceous stratum (P < 0.001) and soil P content (P < 0.001). Our results highlight the importance of seasonal silvopasture as a viable practice for enhancing ecosystem productivity by increasing forage availability, herbaceous biomass, and soil fertility. The findings raise expectations for the application of silvopasture as a tool for sustainable temperate forest management.

Understory cultivation pattern of medicinal plants is a kind of planting mode which makes full use of land resources, light, and heat resources. This planting mode is under the forest on the basis of fully understanding the growth environment of medicinal plants and using the principle of the symbiosis of forest medicine. The understory planting mode plays a positive role in the protection and sustainable utilization of forest resources, plants diversity, and ecological environment. Therefore, this planting mode has become a popular choice for the development of forest industry. This review mainly focus on the research progress in understory planting mode of medicinal plants, including the advantages of understory planting, the influence of understory planting on forest ecosystem, and the factors affecting the understory cultivation of medicinal plants. And it also proposes the possibility of optimizing the cultivation conditions of planting patterns of medicinal plants under forests through integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics. This review provides guidance and suggestions for related research on the sustainable development of understory planting medicinal plants and the rational utilization of forest land resources.