Agroforestry Systems最新文献

There is increasing interest in practice and policy in the use of polycultures composed of a tree layer integrated with multiple other perennial vegetation layers (“food forests”) in temperate regions, but scientific understanding of this farming system appears limited. This scoping review aims to facilitate future food forestry research by providing a clear overview of existing empirical research and research agenda. To do so, we unite a body of literature that is currently fragmented, mainly due to inconsistent terminology, and organize it around nine key research themes defined in a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework, collaboratively developed by a network of food forestry scholars, outlines the following themes to strengthen the science-policy-practice interface: personal motivation, external factors, knowledge (co-)creation, types of food forests, management characteristics, ecosystem functioning, value creation, interaction or comparison with other land use systems, and transition processes. For each theme, we describe the extent to which the theme and more specific subthemes within this theme have been empirically investigated, which methodological approaches are used to do so, and which topics and methodologies future research should prioritize. Overall, we highlight three ‘clusters’ of research gaps. These center around questions pertaining to food production at food forests, multifunctionality at food forests, and processes of knowledge legitimization around food forestry. Methodologically, we make a case for transdisciplinary approaches. Additionally, studies with more analytical, experimental and longitudinal approaches, larger sample sizes, older study sites, and conducted in underexplored regions, are necessary to address the research gaps we identify.

Argania spinosa L., endemic to south-western Morocco, underpins a distinctive agro-silvopastoral landscape where biodiversity conservation, soil stabilization, cultural practices, and rural economies are closely intertwined. Evidence consistently indicates declining natural regeneration and reduced stand density, driven by land-use change, high grazing pressure, and recurrent drought. Climate projections suggest substantial contraction of suitable habitat, with consequences for household income, tree yield, and forage supply. On the socio-economic side, women-led cooperatives remain central to oil production, yet livelihoods are exposed to resource decline, market volatility, quality control challenges, limited finance and infrastructure constraints, and unequal value capture along the chain. The review identifies promising leverage points: improved silviculture and assisted regeneration; adaptive grazing management; restoration planning informed by water and soil constraints; experimentation with domestication beyond the current range; innovation in extraction technologies; and clearer, enforceable rights of use with stronger cooperative bargaining power. Long-term sustainability will depend on integrated ecological restoration, climate-resilient regional planning, and equitable institutional arrangements that balance conservation with rural development. Future research priorities include identifying climate-tolerant germplasm, testing regeneration under stress, and evaluating governance mechanisms that secure both ecosystem integrity and local livelihoods. Bioclimatic assessments also point to emerging suitable niches in the western Mediterranean, supporting restoration applications beyond Morocco in the coming decades.

Tropical zones currently produce the majority of the world’s agricultural food; however, their thermal environment poses a challenge to animals. In this context, silvopastoral systems (SPS) have been proposed to provide animals with milder microclimates owing to their shaded areas. To evaluate the impact of the silvopastoral system on the behavior, gonadosomatic development, and endocrine profile of young beef bulls, as well as to relate these characteristics to thermal comfort conditions across different seasons. Conducted over 13 months in a high-altitude tropical area in Brazil, the study involved 40 beef bulls (10.5±1.9 months; 222.5±34.5 kg BW), divided into full sun (FS; n=20) and SPS (n=20). Weather stations measured bioclimatic variables, and electronic collars permanently monitored animal behavior. Monthly measurements included hormonal profiles, live weight, and scrotal circumference. Statistical analyses used a mixed linear model (α=5%).SPS provided a milder microclimate, enhancing thermal comfort (P<0.05). The system influenced the time spent walking and resting (P<0.05). Bulls in FS ruminated longer at night and in the early morning than in SPS. Even in hotter seasons, FS bulls walked more than those in SPS (P<0.05). Serum cortisol and testosterone levels were similar between groups; however, FS bulls had higher serum T3 levels (P<0.05) without significant anabolic effects. Both groups showed similar live weight and scrotal circumference development. SPS fosters a more favorable microclimate, improving animal welfare and behavior while maintaining productive traits, suggesting its potential to enhance the resilience of production systems.

Natural forest coffee, semi-forest coffee, and homegarden coffee are generally seen as beneficial for biodiversity conservation, but this may not always be the case. While they are widely recognized for their biodiversity conservation values, their impact on woody species diversity, composition, and structure still remains a gap. This study examined the impact of natural forest coffee, semi-forest coffee, and homegarden coffee on woody species diversity and structure in the Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia. Three coffee production systems were considered for the study, namely homegarden coffee, semi-forest coffee, and natural forest coffee. In all, 90 sample plots were randomly selected and surveyed. A total of 27 woody species belonging to 17 families were recorded. Natural forest coffee maintains the highest structural complexity and continuous regeneration of shade trees as compared to homegarden and semi forest coffee. All diversity indices confirmed that there was significantly higher biodiversity in natural forest coffee. Structural attributes, including stem density, diameter at breast height (DBH), and basal area, were significantly greater in natural forest coffee and semi-forest coffee than in homegarden coffee (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between natural forest coffee and semi-forest coffee (p > 0.05). Both the Jaccard and Sørensen similarity coefficients indicate a strong overlap in woody species composition between natural forest coffee and semi-forest coffee (Jaccard = 0.67 and Sørensen = 0.80). Natural forest coffee and homegarden coffee showed the lowest similarity (Jaccard = 0.38; Sørensen = 0.56), reflecting substantial differences in species composition. Rarefaction analyses confirmed adequate sampling coverage. The findings emphasize the highly significant role of natural forest coffee and semi-forest coffee for biodiversity conservation.

Agroforestry is increasingly recognised for its multifunctional benefits, including ecosystem service delivery, biodiversity enhancement, and landscape improvement. As interest in this type of agriculture grows within new agri-environment policies, understanding farmer preferences and barriers to agroforestry adoption becomes critical. This study explored farmer views on agroforestry practices and scheme characteristics through four focus groups with 24 participants in England. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: terminology, perceived benefits, barriers, and facilitators of adoption. Farmers associated agroforestry with a range of farm-level and environmental benefits, such as shade for livestock, additional income streams, habitat creation, and cultural ecosystem services. However, adoption was constrained by concerns over financial viability, scheme inflexibility, and the mismatch between the long-term nature of tree planting and short-term policy cycles. Farmers also expressed uncertainty about how agroforestry fits within their role as food producers, and highlighted knowledge gaps around scheme requirements and tree management. Short-term tenancy agreements further limited participation. Findings suggest that farmers are more likely to adopt agroforestry when support schemes are flexible, context-sensitive, and supported by trusted advisors. Trust in scheme providers, particularly those perceived as impartial and embedded within the farming community, was found to be a critical factor influencing engagement, especially given widespread scepticism toward government-led initiatives. Future policies should prioritise long-term support, facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and ensure that agroforestry practices complement farm operations and food production goals. By fostering trust, simplifying scheme processes, and aligning agroforestry with farmer identity, policy can more effectively support the transition to sustainable land management.

In Northeast China’s black soil region, farmland shelterbelts play a critical role in controlling erosion. However, with the escalating threat of water erosion and associated cropland degradation, their effectiveness in mitigating water erosion at the regional scale remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study selected Baiquan County, where a relatively complete farmland shelterbelt network has been established under the Three-North Protective Forest Program, to quantitatively evaluate the protective effects of farmland shelterbelts against water erosion. A regional-scale protection level model was constructed for 2022, and both slope erosion and gully erosion intensities were quantified using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model and remote sensing visual interpretation. The relationships between the protective level of farmland shelterbelts and erosion intensity were then analyzed to reveal their regulatory role in mitigating soil and water loss. The results show that the average protective level of farmland shelterbelts in the study area was 27.66%, indicating limited overall protection. Shelterbelts significantly reduced both slope soil erosion and gully density. In areas with high (0–2°), moderate (2–5°), and low (5–15°) slopes, the soil erosion modulus decreased by 8.59%, 29.27%, and 13.95%, while gully density decreased by 13.34%, 28.04%, and 17.45%, respectively. Across high (457–481 mm), moderate (481–507 mm), and low (507–544 mm) precipitation areas, the soil erosion modulus decreased by 21.67%, 26.96%, and 19.13%, and gully density by 10.15%, 31.58%, and 11.65%, respectively. These results provide a theoretical basis for optimizing farmland shelterbelts planning and management in black soil regions vulnerable to water erosion.

The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) is one of the most valuable non-timber forest products in the Amazon, yet its production chain remains underexplored in terms of structure, efficiency, and territorial dynamics. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution, productive performance, and socioeconomic drivers of the Brazil nut value chain in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, identifying critical bottlenecks and opportunities for sustainable development. To this end, official data from 2010 to 2023 were used to perform descriptive spatial analysis and log–log econometric modeling. Results show a high concentration of production in the microregions of Purus, Rio Negro/Solimões, and Jutaí/Solimões/Juruá, where traditional extractivism, community governance, and fluvial accessibility favor regular output. In contrast, regions such as Alto Rio Negro and Baixo Amazonas face infrastructural limitations and low organizational capacity. The econometric model indicates that a 10% increase in the number of extractivists raises total production by 15.62%, and a 10% increase in yield results in a 10.06% increase, highlighting the labor-dependence of the chain. Furthermore, average producer price positively affects output, while higher per capita income correlates negatively, suggesting that extractivism tends to be abandoned as other income sources emerge. These findings reveal a structurally vulnerable chain that lacks technological intensification and value aggregation. Public policies focused on infrastructure, cooperativism, technological inclusion, and socio-biodiversity valorization are essential to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the Brazil nut sector in the Amazon.

Agroforestry systems offer a sustainable approach to enhance land productivity, ecological stability, and income diversification by integrating high-value trees with economically important crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different medicinal and fruit tree species and distances from tree bases on the growth, yield, and land-use efficiency of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). The experiment was conducted under a two-factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Six tree species—Phyllanthus emblica L., Terminalia chebula Retz, Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn. Roxb.), Mangifera indica L., Moringa oleifera, and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck were integrated with turmeric at three distances from the tree base (0–68, 69–136, and 137–204 cm), along with an open-field control without trees. Growth, yield components, light availability, land equivalent ratio (LER), and multivariate relationships were analyzed. Results indicated that turmeric growth performance and yield were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by tree species, distance from the tree base, and their interaction. Turmeric performed best under open control plots and moderately shaded conditions beneath M. oleifera, P. emblica, and M. indica, producing the highest rhizome yield (31.86–36.43 t ha⁻¹) at 137–204 cm from the tree base. Dense-canopy trees such as T. bellirica and T. chebula reduced turmeric yield due to excessive shading and root competition. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified plant height, number of mother rhizomes, and number of secondary fingers as major yield determinants. Light availability showed a strong positive correlation with turmeric yield (r = 0.92, p < 0.001), underscoring the importance of canopy management. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) values ranged from 1.64 to 1.81, confirming the productivity advantage of tree–turmeric intercropping over monocropping. Overall, integrating turmeric with suitable trees such as M. oleifera, P. emblica, and C. sinensis promotes sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient agroforestry systems in tropical regions.

Lac, a natural resin of significant economic value, is secreted by the lac insect Kerria lacca. This insect thrives on specific host plants, including ber (Ziziphus mauritiana). In tribal regions, lac cultivation is an important source of income. Pruning is a key agronomic practice that influences shoot growth, which in turn affects lac insect settlement and resin production. This study investigated the effects of two seasonal pruning schedules—February (for the winter Kusmi crop) and October (for the rainy season Rangeeni crop)—on shoot development and lac yield across 23 ber varieties. A factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three replications was used. February pruning significantly enhanced shoot regeneration, resulting in a 58% increase in shoot number and a 9% higher Kusmi lac yield compared to October pruning. A strong negative correlation was found between average shoot diameter and broodlac yield (r = − 0.798 for February), indicating that finer shoots are more conducive to lac insect settlement. We conclude that February pruning optimizes lac production by promoting more and finer shoots. Both genetic (varietal choice) and environmental (pruning season) factors significantly influence lac yield. These results underscore the critical role of pruning timing in optimizing lac productivity. Integrating fruit-bearing ber varieties into lac-based agroforestry systems (silvi-agri-lac model) provides dual economic benefits from resin and fruit, enhancing resilience for farmers.