Agroforestry Systems最新文献

Many studies point to the social and environmental benefits of agroforestry, also in temperate regions such as Flanders. Nevertheless, farmers do not yet see agroforestry as an equally valuable option alongside other farming systems because of the uncertain economic profitability and the current incompatibility of this system with existing market conditions. This paper has the aim to identify and evaluate – existing and hypothetical- economic incentives for agroforestry in Flanders. Data was collected over the period 2015—2021 through focus groups at conferences and in thematic living labs in Flanders with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. farmers, processors, policy makers, researchers, etc.). The results were analysed qualitatively in Nvivo12 to make a classification of incentives and instruments in a first phase. In a second phase they were evaluated based on an adjusted SAF (Suitability, Acceptability and Feasibility) framework. Four types of incentives were identified: (1) government based; (2) payment for agroforestry products; (3) payment for ecosystem services; and (4) community based incentives. Currently, the highest potential is expected from payment for ecosystem services and the least potential from payment for products and community-based incentives due to a lack of consumer demand for agroforestry products specifically and the unfamiliarity of agroforestry to a broader public. At the end of the data collection period, a positive evolution was already observed in the development of these instruments. To accelerate this evolution, initiatives supporting awareness among a broader public and more insights into the preferences of a wide range of stakeholders is needed.

Silvopastoral systems combine forestry and grazing, potentially improving land use efficiency and animal welfare. However, livestock predation on trees is a challenge. To compare the predatory behavior of calves (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) grazing native grassland with different Eucalyptus grandis densities, 71 calves were randomly allocated at weaning (Day 0) to 3 treatments: (1) Full sun (0 trees/ha), (2) low tree density (160 trees/ha), and (3) high tree density (240 trees/ha). The live weight of the calves was measured monthly, and blood samples were collected once to evaluate serum minerals. Tree severity damage was assessed using a visual scale (0 = no damage to 4 = severe damage). Variables were analyzed using SAS mixed and proc freq procedures, being significant if P < 0.05. On Day 66, damage was found in 16% of trees, with significant differences (P < 0.05) in severe damage between low (6%) and high (3%) tree densities. Daily weight gain and serum profiles of Ca, P, K, Na, Cl, Fe and Cu were similar (P > 0.05) between treatments, but Cu was below reference values. At Day 66, all calves were fitted with nose plates, halting predatory behavior for 54 days. On Day 120 a second attack was observed only in high tree density (17%), most with severe damage (P < 0.01). Live weight, daily gain and stocking rate were similar between treatments. We concluded that weaned calves exhibited predatory behavior towards E. grandis, not associated with weight loss but with mild Cu deficiency. An oscillating nose plate design effectively stopped predatory behavior.

The expansion of Eucalyptus globules boundary plantations (EGBPs) along farm boundaries is considered to have effects on the yield of crops underneath them. We evaluated the orientation and root trenching effect of EGBP on barley yield and soil physicochemical properties in the Gummer District of Central Ethiopia. Two months before sowing, trenches were prepared on each side of the orientation of EGBP at distances of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.5 m using a split-split plot design with three replications. At a 1.5 m trench distance, the north-facing field showed 20.4% to 31.2% additional yield increment compared with the south-, east-, and west-facing fields. Additionally, 15.2% to 43% additional yield was observed as the field distance from the EGBP increased from 3 to 12 m. In comparison to un-trenched fields, trenched fields showed 31.9% to 73.4% additional yield variation. Regarding the soil physicochemical properties, the aspect of EGBP had no a significant effect. However, except for the texture, pH, and exchangeable K, the soil OM, TN, available P, and CEC status significantly differed among the trenches. On average, the root trench minimized the field distance effect of EGBP on barley yield by 24%. Tree root trenching is a potential tool for managing below-ground competition. Therefore, establishing a 0.5 m × 0.5 m trench at a 1.5 m distance from the EGBP is vital for maximizing barley yield and increasing land-use efficiency.

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is an important tree species in agroforestry systems in West Africa and shea nuts constitute a fundamental resource for rural livelihoods in this area. This study investigated the sustainability and interactions in agroforestry systems of shea trees around the village Nakpalli in Northern Ghana. The focus of the study was the population structures and densities of shea trees on different land types, below-canopy microclimate and co-cultivation of yams (Dioscorea rotundata (Poir.) J. Miége) under shea tree canopies, and water stress of the trees in the driest season. Shea tree populations are overall well-conserved in this area, but Weibull-distributions of the tree populations and quantification of seedlings showed a lower tree density in both cultivated and fallowed lands, as compared to undisturbed bushlands. Although farmers may deliberately manage the density of larger trees, the low densities of seedlings and saplings indicate that intensified management practices, including shortened fallow periods and intentional clearing of land by fire before sowing, might negatively affect the long-term regeneration of the shea trees. Co-cultivation of yams below shea tree canopies allowed production of 11.5 t/ha as compared to 20.8 t/ha at open field conditions. The lower yields may have been caused by an almost 74% reduction of photosynthetically active radiation below canopies, relative to outside the canopies. Shea trees in the fields, fallows and bushlands had close-to-zero predawn leaf water potentials, indicating low water stress, even in the middle of the dry season. Thus, shea trees are both well-adapted and highly valued in this area, which underlines the importance of conserving this indigenous tree species in the agroforestry systems of northern Ghana.

Given the environmental and socioeconomic challenges associated with monoculture rubber plantations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasized the importance of utilizing and protecting crop diversity for sustainable development of rubber industry in Thailand. However, the adoption of such technology remains relatively low that makes rubber crop diversity highly controversy in Thailand. Based on data collected from 2,159 rubber households between 2012 and 2014, this study aims to investigate the impacts of crop diversity adoption on the net income of rubber farmers in Thailand by using propensity score matching models. The findings reveal that adopting rubber crop diversity has a statistically significant negative effect on rubber farmers’ net income. Specifically, those engaged in rubber crop diversity experience a lower net income per person ranging from − 11,785.29 baht to -10,887.21 baht comparing their counterparts practicing monoculture rubber farming. Furthermore, such significant negative effects are exclusively observed among smallholders and rubber farmers in southern regions. Given the implementation of rubber crop diversity system usually grants environmental benefits to the local eco-systems as positive externalities without market rewards, it is imperative to provide additional incentives and support mechanisms to steam up wider adoption of rubber crop diversity for ensuring long-term sustainability of rubber industry in Thailand.

Agroecosystems with greater diversity and perenniality have been proposed to promote resilience to climate change, stability of production, multiple ecosystem services, and socioeconomic outcomes. A wide diversity of silvopastoral systems have been promoted in Latin America for their production and environmental outcomes. In this brief perspective article, we discuss the implications of different trajectories towards silvopastoral systems within the framework of ecological intensification. Transitioning from agricultural systems dominated by annual crops towards complex silvopastoral systems integrating multiple perennial species and livestock constitutes a clear trajectory of ecological intensification. In the context of the tropical dry forests and Amazon rainforests, re-introducing native trees into degraded sown pastures to establish silvopastoral systems increases biodiversity, perenniality, and ecosystem services. In contrast, in the context of native grasslands, plantations of exotic trees for timber or silvopastoral systems reduce biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, transitioning to silvopastoral systems is not always a trajectory of ecological intensification but depends on the contexts and native ecosystems.

Agroforestry can address multiple environmental challenges across the agricultural sector, for example biodiversity loss and soil degradation. However, agroforestry uptake remains low in Germany. Since economic considerations are important for farmer uptake, this paper compares the economic performance of conventional arable farming with silvoarable alley cropping in Brandenburg. Using a modelling approach, the net present value (NPV) is calculated to assess the competitiveness of alley cropping with poplar compared to arable farming under different scenarios. These scenarios cover a range of crops, rotation schedules, alley widths, woodchip prices, and yield levels. Additionally, policy measures that can compensate for potential economic losses associated with transitioning to agroforestry are considered. Results show that short rotation alley cropping had higher NPVs than medium rotation alley cropping, mainly due to cash-flow characteristics. Short rotation alley cropping can be competitive at high woodchip prices without policy support, while at low or average prices alley cropping needs subsidies to be competitive. Medium rotation systems at all price levels were not competitive unless policy support was provided. Current policy payments were unable to make silvoarable alley cropping competitive except at high woodchip prices. When subsidies increase, alley cropping can be competitive even at low or average woodchip prices and over a range of site conditions. Besides policy support, economic performance was strongly influenced by woodchip prices, relative yield potential of poplar and arable crops, and site conditions.

In this paper the financial properties, economic viability and the risk of investing in an agroforestry system (AFS) for indigenous communities (IC) are evaluated to address a critical gap in the literature. An AFS proposal was designed by: (1) assessing raw data from a rural extension project, university and IC Guarani Kaiowá in the Indigenous Reserve of Dourados (IRD); (2) collecting notes and data from local field experts and IC; (3) selecting a scheme from the literature. The AFS was prepared to meet the needs of the IC, mainly food security, income generation, medicine, timber, cultural aspects, welfare. The AFS included a wide range of species, aiming at the diversified and continuous food production. The study was conducted in the IRD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. As methods for investment analysis, capital budgeting techniques were applied. The minimum attractiveness rate (MAR) was calculated according to the hybrid CAPM model (HA-CAPM). For risk assessment, the Monte Carlo method was triggered (10,000 interactions with the variables price, productivity, and cost variables) using the triangular probability distribution. The AFS showed economic viability, with NPV and EUAV values greater than zero, IRR and MIRR greater than MAR (12.80%), PI greater than 1 and the payback period less than the project duration. The analysis confirmed the economic viability (probability of a negative NPV was null). The research findings provide a comprehensive insight into the importance of AFS in promoting economic well-being and support the implementation or strengthening of AFS in IC, bearing in mind that problems and solutions should not be narrowed to a capitalist approach.

Participatory diagnosis is the methodological process through which society participates to undertake and achieve sustainable development with the contribution of science and collective knowledge. The objective of this research is to analyze the current situation of the Sierra de Guadalupe State Park (SGSP) in Mexico from the natural, historical, economic, and social aspects, through participatory research and thus influence the selection of trees and shrubs of multiple uses for reforestation that have the potential to establish agroforestry and silvopastoral systems. This study was carried out with the help of the following tools that are commonly used in a participatory diagnosis: participant observation and transects, SWOT analysis, timeline, and identification and classification of natural resources. To determine the current problems of the state park (SGSP), the "problem tree" method was used. A participatory workshop was held to identify solutions to these problems, assigning positive actions to negative conditions. In addition, 141 interviews were conducted with social actors involved in the study area using the "snowball" methodology. There are 72 and 44 species of wildlife and plants, respectively. Through participatory mapping, changes in the landscape and land use in the pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern periods were identified, which allowed for the construction of a timeline. The priority forest species considered to initiate the restoration actions were: Prosopis laevigata, Vachellia schaffneri, and Quercus rugosa. The shrub species were: Opuntia tomentosa, Opuntia hyptiacantha, and Agave salmiana. In conclusion, with this study, reliable technical knowledge was generated with the participation of society, which will be used to carry out actions of protection, restoration, conservation, and productive reconversion.