Agroforestry Systems最新文献

In agroforestry systems (AFS), where environmental conditions are highly variable at small spatial scales, the use of uniform genetic material of a single cultivar commonly grown in monoculture cropping might not be optimal. However, the use of composite cross populations (CCPs) that contain an inherent genetic variability might be a promising approach under the environmental variability created by trees in AFS. In this experimental trial, the performance of a CCP (‘CC-2 k’) of winter wheat was compared to a commercial variety (‘Wiwa’) in a split-plot design at two AFS (Feusisberg and Wollerau) in Central Switzerland. Yield of CC-2k (1.9 ± 0.7 Mg ha⁻¹) was higher than yield of Wiwa (0.7 ± 0.4 Mg ha⁻¹) in Wollerau, but yields did not differ between CCP and variety in Feusisberg (1.9 ± 0.7 Mg ha⁻¹ and 2.0 ± 0.8 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively). The interaction of site and variety was significant (p < 0.05). Wiwa had a higher protein, Fe and Ca content than CC-2k. Therefore, while the CC-2k outperformed Wiwa in terms of yield in one of the two AFS, Wiwa outperformed CC-2k in terms of quality. In this one-year field experiment, the composite cross population might have been better adapted to the heterogenous environment of agroforestry systems (found in one out of two sites) but failed to reach the high-quality product of modern cultivars. These initial results must be seen as first insights which need to be complemented by larger field experiments for generalisation. The findings of this study may be interpreted as an indication that further improvements in terms of quality might make CCPs a viable option for diversified agricultural systems with larger environmental heterogeneity than common monoculture cropping systems.

Several studies have recalled to narrow the gap of information on carbon (C) storage capacity and the extent of its relationship with socio-ecological factors in agroforestry (AF) land use systems. The aim of this study was to determine the C storage capacity of coffee-shade-tree based (CT-AF) and fruit-tree based (FT-AF) AF practices, and the effects of elevation, slope, household wealth status (HHw) and stand structures on C storage. The total agroforestry practice carbon stock (TAPCS) was determined as the sum of the estimated total plant biomass C and soil organic carbon (SOC). The mean total AF practices C stock (TAPCS) for the CT-AF and FT-AF practices were found to be 113.52 tC ha⁻¹ and 141.58 tC ha⁻¹ respectively. The SOC shared 71.7% of the TAPCS. The analysis of the linear mixed model showed that biomass C stock was significantly influenced by AF practices, HHw, diameter at breast height (DBH) and by the interaction of basal area (BA) with DBH. The total SOC was influenced by AF practices, elevation, slope, HHw, DBH and two-way interaction of elevation with HHw, and three-way interaction of AF practices, elevation and slope gradients. The TAPCS was significantly affected by AF practices, elevation, BA, DBH, two-way interaction of AF practices with elevation, elevation with HHw, and interaction of DBH with BA. The studied AF practices can, on average, sequester more carbon dioxide (C) than other tropical tree-based ecosystems. This study reveals that the AF practices could serve as substantial C sinks and contribute in climate change mitigation in addition to their livelihoods provision for a majority of farming households. The information would benefit both researchers and policymakers, as AF has been promoted as an eco-friendly way to mitigate the effects of climate change. Hence, in order to maximize biomass production, store carbon, and mitigate climate change on smallholder farms, future AF landscape tree enhancement strategies need to take into consideration the different AF practices in relation to elevation, slope, household wealth status, and stand structures.

Deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics have led to significant carbon (C) emissions. Agroforestry (AF) practices are suitable land-use options for tackling such declines in ecosystem services, including climate change (CC) mitigation and biodiversity conservation. However, it is unclear how biomass models, AF practices, and socioecological factors determine these roles, which hinder the implementation of climate change mitigation initiatives. This study aimed to i) evaluate the biomass carbon and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of the three AF practices in relation to socioecological variables in central Ethiopia, and ii) compare the biomass carbon stock using different allometric models. Three AF practices were considered, namely, homegardens, parklands, and woodlots. A total of 432 soil samples were collected from 0–30 and 30–60 cm soil depths. Out of this total, 216 samples were used to determine the soil organic carbon fraction (%C), while the remaining 216 samples were used to calculate the bulk density. The study found that the currently developed allometric equations were the most accurate to estimate biomass carbon stocks in the landscape when compared to previous models. The study found a higher overall biomass C stock in woodlots (165.6 Mg ha⁻¹) than in homegardens (134.1 Mg ha⁻¹) and parklands (20.0 Mg ha⁻¹). Conversely, overall, SOC stock was higher for homegardens (143.9 Mg ha⁻¹), but lower for parklands (53.4 Mg ha⁻¹). The total C stock (biomass carbon and SOC stocks) was comparable between homegardens (277.9 Mg ha⁻¹) and woodlots (275.4 Mg ha⁻¹). The study found that elevation, wealth levels, AF farm age, and size have a positive and significant (P < 0.05) effect on overall biomass C stock but non-significant with slope (P > 0.05). Similarly, SOC stock increased with increasing elevation, AF farm age, and wealth status but decreased with slope and non-significant with AF farm size. The study also showed that species diversity had a positive (P < 0.05) effect on overall biomass C stock in homegardens. The overall study highlights that AF practices have great potential to lock up more carbon in biomass and soils; however, these potentials were determined by socioecological variables. Thus, these factors should be considered in management strategies that preserve trees in agricultural landscapes in order to mitigate climate change and support the livelihoods of farmers.

Agroforestry systems promise a high multifunctionality providing cash and subsistence yields as well as other ecosystem services. Such land systems may be particularly promising for smallholders in tropical landscapes due to high labour intensity and productivity on limited land. Focusing on Madagascar, we here describe the history of agroforestry in the country and review the current literature on agroforestry outcomes as well as factors promoting and hindering agroforest establishment and maintenance. From this, we discuss the potential future of agroforestry in Madagascar. Historically, many crops farmed today in agroforestry systems were originally introduced as plantation crops, mostly in the nineteenth century. Since then, people co-opted these crops into mixed agroforestry systems, often focusing on clove, vanilla, coffee, or cocoa in combination with fruit trees or, for clove, with livestock. Other crops are also integrated, but shares are comparatively low. Overall, 27.4% of Malagasy exports are crops typically farmed in agroforestry systems, providing income for at least 500,000 farmers. Outcomes of agroforestry for biodiversity and ecosystem services are commonly researched, showing benefits over annual crops and monocultures. Social-economic outcomes, including yields, are more scarcely researched, but findings point towards financial benefits for smallholder farmers and a sense of community and collective memory. However, findings emphasize that research gaps remain in terms of geographic and crop coverage, also for ecological outcomes. Looking to the future, we highlight the need to overcome hurdles such as land tenure insecurity, financial barriers to implementation, and unstable value chains to scale agroforestry in Madagascar to the benefit of multifunctional land systems and human wellbeing.

Pollarding in agroforestry systems was traditionally an important practice for fodder acquisition in Western Norway, as well as in many other parts of the world. The practice has long been in decline, but to maintain cultural landscapes and biodiversity enhancement from pollarding, farmers now receive a public grant for each tree they pollard. In this interdisciplinary study we investigate which ecosystem services modern pollarding practices provide, under the influence of the current pollarding policy. We have performed both in-depth interviews and a quantitative survey targeting all pollarding farmers in the county of Vestland in Western Norway. We find that bioresources obtained from the branches from pollarding are to some extent still taken into use, mainly in the form of tree fodder for farm animals and firewood, but a lot of the branches remain unused. Biodiversity benefits are obtained from preserving old trees that often are located on agricultural land as solitary trees, as these trees provide important habitats, particularly for species growing on the bark, such as lichens and mosses, or within the decaying wood, such as, for example, fungi and insects. The modern practice of letting branches rot in the field provide habitats for insects and hence additional benefits to biodiversity. For the farmers, the main motivations to pollard are the cultural, aesthetic and historical values of pollarded trees. They see few disadvantages with pollarding, and most of them plan to continue in the future. The grant provides an incentive for pollarding, but our results indicate that the practice would continue without it, although less than now, especially with the establishment of new pollards.

We analyzed Melia dubia leaf fodder proximate and cell wall composition to ascertain provenance and seasonal variations in Satpura and northern tip of Western Ghats (or Sahyadri) ranges falling in Gujarat, India. The study revealed significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) in proximate [moisture content (MC), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), organic matter (OM), total ash (TA), acid insoluble ash (AIA) and nitrogen free extract (NFE)] and cell wall attributes [neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose and cellulose content] among eight provenances in the winter and summer seasons. The MC, DM, CP, CF, EE, OM, TA and NFE ranged from 68.6–72.2%; 27.8–31.5%, 10.2–12.1%, 16.3–18.7%, 2.5–3.3%, 85.4–88.7%, 11.3–14.6% and 55.0–58.4%, respectively among eight provenances. DM, CP, CF, EE and OM (29.7%, 12.0%, 18.6%, 3.3% and 87.6%, respectively) were significantly higher in the summer. In contrast, MC, TA, AIA and NFE (70.9%, 13.6%, 1.0% and 58.4%, respectively) were significantly higher in the winter season. NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose content ranged from 32.2–38.5%, 23.8–30.2%, 11.8–20.8%, 6.9–9.7% and 9.3–12.3%, respectively among provenances. Further, M. dubia leaf cell wall composition varied significantly between winter and summer seasons. NDF, ADF, ADL and hemicellulose (36.2%, 27.6%, 16.9% and 8.7%, respectively) were higher during the summer season (S₂); conversely, the cellulose content was higher (11.2%) in the winter season. Keeping in view the average proximate and fiber composition levels, M. dubia leaf fodder falls within the energy-rich fodder stuff.

Bamboo-based agroforestry systems have emerged as a sustainable and promising approach for land management, offering enhanced productivity, sustainability, and resource preservation. Intercrops play a pivotal role in agroforestry systems, significantly contributing to their overall productivity and sustainability. This article explores the potential of bamboo agroforestry in diversifying agroecosystems, generating income streams, and contributing to sustainable rural development. The study evaluates the performance (yield and biomass) of two intercrops, okra and black gram, within Dendrocalamus brandisii-based agroforestry model and assesses their impact on soil nutrient status. Okra cultivation commenced once the bamboo plants had matured to 12 months, while black gram was introduced at the 18-month stage. Results indicate that wider spacing between bamboo plants significantly enhances intercrop yields, emphasizing the economic viability of bamboo agroforestry. The harvest index analysis reveals efficient resource utilization in intercropped systems, harvest indices for vegetables (okra) typically range between 30 and 40 percent, whereas pulses, such as black gram, often exhibit higher harvest indices, falling within the range of 70 to 90 percent. Importantly, the study finds that bamboo growth remains unaffected by intercrops, highlighting the compatibility of bamboo cultivation with diverse agricultural practices. Furthermore, the impact of intercrops on soil physico-chemical properties is examined, with okra cultivation negatively influencing soil moisture, bulk density, pH, and electrical conductivity, while black gram cultivation positively affects soil nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur. These findings contribute valuable insights for optimizing bamboo agroforestry systems, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring food security in diverse agroecological contexts.