Abstract

The adoption of agroforestry system aims to combine food production enhancement to compensate population growth with the improvement of agricultural marketable products to increase household income. The diversification of food crop products requires more effective land use. In Gunungkidul, high-density teak (Tectona grandis) plantation has dominated many private forests. The area under the tree crown has received low light intensity, where only shade-resistant plants can survive. Tuber crops, i.e., arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), canna (Canna edulis) and yam (Dioscorea esculenta) are shade-tolerant crops, which were planted in tree understory for supplementary food production and income generation. The cultivation under teak stand has been overlooked due to uncertainty in tuber productivity. To address this knowledge gap, the effect of teak shade (5- and 7-year teak) on the growth and yield of the three tuber crops was examined. The results indicated that both teak trial areas (with RLI 45.13% and 38.76%) were suitable for canna production (LER > 1), while management options were recommended for enhancing arrowroot and yam production. The LER of intercropped three-tuber crops under 5 years’ teak were >1, while of those under 7 years’ teak, only canna reached >1. Canna is the preferred option to be mixed in teak agroforestry systems with low light intensity due to its consistent yields, whether planted in open area or under teak shade. Silvicultural management, pruning and thinning are recommended to increase the growing space and resource sharing for intercropped plants. Land optimization in private forest understory using shade-resistant tubers will offer medium-term benefits, provided that proper silvicultural procedures are applied.

Highlights

  • Population growth has caused food demand to exceed food availability [1]

  • The height of arrowroot under 7-year teak shade at 1 MAP was the highest compared to other treatments on arrowroot

  • The values of arrowroot plant growth variables in open area were higher compared to both shaded areas (5- and 7-year teak), except for the plant height at 1 MAP under 7-year teak shade

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Summary

Introduction

Population growth has caused food demand to exceed food availability [1]. Food availability depends on food production and arable land availability. Arable land for food crops is projected to decrease due to population growth and economic pressures [2,3]. The decline in the production capacity of agricultural lands becomes a barrier in achieving food security [4]. Efforts to achieve food yield targets with conventional agriculture have caused extensive environmental and social damage [5,6]. The conversion of forests to agricultural land has seriously impacted water availability, changing the energy balance on land surface and climate from local to global scale [5]. Unsustainable agriculture [7] can be changed toward sustainable agroforestry [8]

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