Agroforestry Production Systems Research Articles

Suitability of Broccoli in Aonla based Multistoried Fruit Production Model

Aonla based multistoried agroforestry with vegetables is a promising solution to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change by offering multidimensional benefits. Disappointedly, Bangladeshi farmers are less equipped about the cultivation techniques, economics, and yields of multistory agroforestry production systems. Consequently, the goal of the current study was to evaluate the profitability and yield potentiality of aonla-based multistoried broccoli production system during the period of November 22 to March 23. Three separate multistory agroforestry systems were covered by the three treatments, while an open field served as the control treatment. to keep track of the system's expansion and economic success; soil analysis, photosynthetically active radiation, plant height, number of leaves, head length, head width, head weight, total yield, BCR, and LER were calculated following different established methods. While compared to sole cropping, the agroforestry approach drastically reduced the production of broccoli by 89%. Soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and sulfur were higher in agroforestry system than that of control plot. In fact, the agroforestry system had some negative effects on the rate of crop growth in understored conditions. Despite, net return and BCR from aonla-based multistoried agroforestry system were 4-11 lakh and 2.24-3.98, which was 69-87 and 41- 67 %, respectively higher than sole cropping systems. The LER of aonla based multistoried agroforestry system was 3.20. The major conclusions show that aonla orchards can be converted to agroforestry systems to increase productivity, generate money, and protect the environment, however due to poor performance, broccoli cannot be grown in multistory systems.

Reforesting the Coastal Deserts of the World: A Peruvian Case-Study

This paper discusses the technical and economic possibilities of adapting new technologies for harvesting water from clouds for the purposes of reforestation of vast arid areas of the Peruvian coastline. Peru is the climatical synthesis of the world, with great diversity of climates due to numerous factors such as its latitude, the Andes, the Peruvian sea, and the El Niño current. Although the cold waters of the Peruvian sea have influenced the climate converting the coast into a desert strip, it contributes, paradoxically, to the formation of dense layers of stratum clouds that cover the Peruvian coastal sky most of the year.The viability of adapting the water-harvesting technologies for reforestation of Peru’s coastline is shown to be valid in the paper. The discussion suggests that a social cost-benefit analysis of a 1000-hectares pilot reforestation project would show fairly low monetary costs and very important potential economic benefits. The main use that the new forest areas may be put to is agroforestry production systems, including timber, perennial semi-tropical crops (lucuma, pacay, pepino, basul), medicinal herbs, pasture crops and south american camelidae. The emphasis should be on desert plants such as cactus. The environmental benefits, stemming from the mere existence of forest and a greater biodiversity even if no commercial output is extracted from them, are more difficult to evaluate. Because, how are we to value the benefits on climate and on people brought about by the rebirth of a forest?

Effect of Direction and Distance of Moringa oleifera on Growth and Yield of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

A field experiment was conducted at the moringa-based experimental farm of the Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur from November 2020 to September 2021. The aim of the study was to assess how well cabbage performed and adapted to various orientations and distances from the moringa tree. The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Four different directions along with one control plot were used as factor A and different distances from tree base was treated as factor B. The data of some ecophysiological parameters like maximum light intensity and soil temperature were noticed in south direction and the widest distance from tree base. The highest soil moisture was found at north direction. Most of the growth parameters showed better performance in open field compared to shade condition. In the case of interaction effect, the south direction and the widest distance (180 cm) from moringa tree base showed the highest number of outer leaves, head length, width, head diameter, head length, and head weight compared to other directions and distances. Concurrently, the maximum total yield and marketable yield were recorded from 180 cm in south direction whereas the lowest yield was found at the closest distance (80 cm) and east direction. The marketable yield of south, west, north, and east directions were reduced by 8.43, 14.87, 23.86 and 31.52% as compared to open field. At 130 cm and 80 cm distance the yield was reduced by 16.42 and 32.26% as compared to 180 cm distance from tree base. The current findings suggested that cabbage may be grown in partial shade in moringa-based agroforestry production systems without enduring significant yield losses.

Profitability of Three Vegetables In Aonla Based Multistoried Agroforestry System

Aonla based multistoried agroforestry with vegetables is a promising solution to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change by offering multidimensional benefits. However, Bangladeshi farmers are less aware and equipped. about the cultivation techniques and benefit of multistory agroforestry production systems. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the yield potentiality and profitability of aonla based multistoried vegetables production system during the period of November 21 to March 22. Three individual experiments each for tomato, eggplant and potato were laid out in a single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Upper storied plant aonla received 100% Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), but incident light was gradually decreased on middle storied (carambola, lemon, dragon fruit) and lower storied (vegetables) in multistoried conditions. The vegetables experienced 50, 78, 98, and 100% PAR in T1 (Multistoried), T2 (Aonla + Dragon fruit + Vegetables), T3 (Dragon fruit + Vegetables) and T4 (Sole cropping of vegetables) treatment, respectively. Considering the yield of tested vegetables in heaviest shade (T1), suitability rank was eggplant > tomato > potato. The per plant yield reduction was also high in T1 such as potato (40.47%) > tomato (34.29%) > eggplant (33.17%). A positive polynomial (for tomato) and linear (for eggplant and potato) relationship was found between yield and light (% PAR). BCR of dragon fruit + eggplant based system 5.02 was found quite profitable. When both BCR and LER were taken into account, the aonla + dragon fruit + eggplant agroforestry system was found the best production technique for production diversification, maximum land use efficiency, and better profitability. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2022) 26 (1) : 49-60

Agroforestry as an Ecofriendly Pathway to Income Generation and Livelihood Improvement: The Case of the Madhupur Garh, Bangladesh

Agroforestry production systems are underappreciated for their role in meeting the SDGs on poverty, food security, and climate change. In Bangladesh, low-productive agroforestry practices also provide ecosystem services and supply food to more than 22 million poor families. Accordingly, Madhupur Garh’s agroforestry practices are very promising and act as a significant factor in providing several outputs and opportunities for over 50,000 farmers to improve farm productivity, livelihoods, and resource conservation. Therefore, a case study was undertaken to analyze the economical profitability of promising local agroforestry practices and their impacts on the livelihoods of the rural farmers living in Madhupur Garh. This study identified six of the most common potential agroforestry practices in the Madhupur Garh. Among six identified agroforestry practices, the highest gross return and net profit were obtained from the Acacia-Pineapple-Ginger-based agroforestry practice (BCR 2.83). Moreover, these agroforestry models have simultaneously improved participants' social, physical, human, and ecological capital. So, the study argues that these agroforestry models not only provide economic returns but also augment the livelihood capital of the local farmers, thus developing their community as a whole, and this research looks at some of the key aspects of that development. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Acacia-Pineapple-Ginger-based agroforestry program can be the most effective strategy for generating income for the rural people in the study area and have an impact on the local farmers' livelihoods in the Madhupur Garh of Bangladesh.

EVALUATION DE LA PRODUCTION FRUITIERE EN PEUPLEMENTS NATURELS DUNJANSANG (RICINODENDRONHEUDELOTII BAIL.) EN ZONE FORESTIERE A PLUVIOMETRIE BIMODALE DANS LA REGION DU CENTRE (CAMEROUN)

RicinodendronheudelotiiBail., commonlyknown as Njansang, is a speciesendemic to the dense evergreenforests of Africa. Its fruits are highlyprized and are usedboth for home consumption and for marketing in Cameroon and in the Congo Basin in general.This studyaims to evaluate fruit production of thisspeciesunder the influence of two types of land use. To do this, itwasconducted in the bimodal rainfallforest zone located in the Central region (Cameroon) between the months of August and October of the years 2017 to 2019.Thus, individuals of R. heudelotiiwereidentified and their fruit production wasevaluated in agroforestry plots based on cocoatrees and in more or lessdegradedforests.The resultsobtainedshowedthat the fruit production per plant of Njansangis 8.34 ± 7.45 kg per year.It did not varysignificantlyfromyear to year, but wassignificantlyhigher in September.Moreover, itwassignificantlyhigher in cocoa agro-foreststhan in weaklydisturbedforests.Theseresultscould help forecastharvests and production sales for the month or year.Also, theycouldstimulate the introduction and integration of R. heudelotiiindividualsintococoa agro-forestrysystems and thusboost domestication, development of the species and the diversification of agroforestry production systems.

Role of jackfruit based traditional agroforestry in farmers income and livelihood improvements: Evidence from Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

The agroforestry production systems provide products and services to support the basic needs and augment the livelihood of millions of farmers all over the world. In Bangladesh, the benefit of the traditional agroforestry systems and their livelihood development approaches are often not systematically addressed. Thus, the goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of traditional agroforestry on income generation and livelihood improvement of the rural farmers in Bangladesh. The study selected one of the most common jackfruit agroforestry cases practiced in the Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. The study was conducted in Muktagasa, Ghagra and Birunia, three villages located in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The outcome revealed that the most common significant feature of the jackfruit-based agroforestry system was to generate income and diversified products for the rural farmers. Besides, the BCR was an evident indication of the income and livelihood developments of farmers. The rural farmers were able to build their finical, physical and natural capital strongly, while the social and human capital developments would require further attention. Also, the local marketing system was a constraint factor for the farmers, thus, the farmers could not get the proper price of their jackfruit in the peak season. The scientific training on jackfruit-based agroforestry farming systems and local conflict resolution mechanism process from the government levels would speed up the income generation and livelihood development of the farmers in Mymensingh region. Therefore, the study suggests to minimize the constraints of the agroforestry production systems through training, resolve marketing problems and also enhance social relationship through government official interference would be very effective to make the jackfruit-based agroforestry a more sustainable land-use practice in Bangladesh.

Growth and Yield of Three Turmeric Varities (Curcuma longa L.) under Mango Based Agroforestry

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh during 24 March 2018 to 10 January 2019, to investigate the growth and yield of different turmeric varieties under mango trees and open control. The experiment consisted of two factors with three replications. Among the two factors, one factor was two production systems: T1 =Mango + Turmeric and T2=Open control + Turmeric; the second factor was three turmeric local varieties: V1=Thailand, V2= Malshira and V3= Debipat. Interaction treatments between factor A and factor B were T1V1, T1V2, T1V3, T2V1, T2V2 and T2V3 combinations. The experiment was laid out following a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Findings of the study revealed that growth and yield of turmeric significantly varied in the main effect of different agroforestry production systems. The highest fresh weight of rhizome (11000 kg/ha) was obtained in T2 and lowest (7055 kg/ha) in T1. The highest dry weight of rhizome (2126 kg/ha) was found in T2 and lowest (1456 kg/ha) was in T1. On the other hand the highest fresh weight of rhizome was 9777 kg/ha found with (V2) and lowest 8055 kg/ha with (V3), the highest dry weight of rhizome was 2013kg/ha found in V1.In case of interaction, the highest fresh rhizome weight (13611 kg/ha) and dry rhizome weight (2631 kg/ha) were recorded in T2V2 and T2V2, respectively. However, the lowest were found in T1V2 (5944 kg/ha) and T1V2 (1208 kg/ha).

Sistemas agroforestales de aguacate antillano en Montes de María (Colombia): un modelo conceptual del sistema de producción

Montes de Maria is a subregion of the Colombian Caribbean made up of 15 municipalities in the states of Bolivar and Sucre. This subregion includes the plain zone bordering the Magdalena River, the coastal zone and the mountainous zone, the last of which is the main producer of West Indian avocado (Persea americana var. americana) in Colombia and groups more than 1,500 agricultural production units. West Indian avocado is produced in agroforestry systems in association with cocoa and yam plantations. In the last decade, a decrease in the avocado cultivated area associated with the occurrence of plant wilting symptoms has been observed. Multiple efforts have been made by different stakeholders in the region with the purpose of collecting information to understand the loss of cultivated areas and implement strategies to manage the production system. The aim of this review is to present an overview of avocado agroforestry production systems in Montes de Maria through conceptual models that allow identifying factors, components and relationships among components of the production system. The proposed conceptual model can be easily expanded to include new relationships or to describe existing ones in mathematical terms, allowing the development of probabilistic simulation models.

Climate‐resilient agroforestry: physiological responses to climate change and engineering of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) as a mitigation strategy

Global climate change threatens the sustainability of agriculture and agroforestry worldwide through increased heat, drought, surface evaporation and associated soil drying. Exposure of crops and forests to warmer and drier environments will increase leaf:air water vapour-pressure deficits (VPD), and will result in increased drought susceptibility and reduced productivity, not only in arid regions but also in tropical regions with seasonal dry periods. Fast-growing, short-rotation forestry (SRF) bioenergy crops such as poplar (Populus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) are particularly susceptible to hydraulic failure following drought stress due to their isohydric nature and relatively high stomatal conductance. One approach to sustaining plant productivity is to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) by engineering crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) into C3 crops. CAM improves WUE by shifting stomatal opening and primary CO2 uptake and fixation to the night-time when leaf:air VPD is low. CAM members of the tree genus Clusia exemplify the compatibility of CAM performance within tree species and highlight CAM as a mechanism to conserve water and maintain carbon uptake during drought conditions. The introduction of bioengineered CAM into SRF bioenergy trees is a potentially viable path to sustaining agroforestry production systems in the face of a globally changing climate.

Diverse applications of electronic-nose technologies in agriculture and forestry.

Electronic-nose (e-nose) instruments, derived from numerous types of aroma-sensor technologies, have been developed for a diversity of applications in the broad fields of agriculture and forestry. Recent advances in e-nose technologies within the plant sciences, including improvements in gas-sensor designs, innovations in data analysis and pattern-recognition algorithms, and progress in material science and systems integration methods, have led to significant benefits to both industries. Electronic noses have been used in a variety of commercial agricultural-related industries, including the agricultural sectors of agronomy, biochemical processing, botany, cell culture, plant cultivar selections, environmental monitoring, horticulture, pesticide detection, plant physiology and pathology. Applications in forestry include uses in chemotaxonomy, log tracking, wood and paper processing, forest management, forest health protection, and waste management. These aroma-detection applications have improved plant-based product attributes, quality, uniformity, and consistency in ways that have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of production and manufacturing processes. This paper provides a comprehensive review and summary of a broad range of electronic-nose technologies and applications, developed specifically for the agriculture and forestry industries over the past thirty years, which have offered solutions that have greatly improved worldwide agricultural and agroforestry production systems.

The economic effects of common agricultural policy on Mediterranean montado/ dehesa ecosystem

The decoupling of CAP payments leads production decisions and resources allocation to be more dependent on market prices and competitive advantages. The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of CAP trends on the montado/dehesa traditional ecosystem of Mediterranean regions in terms of farm income, land, labour and capital. A positive mathematical supply model disaggregated by the montado agro-forestry production systems of the Alentejo region in southern Portugal is developed. The results show that decoupling payments of CAP have negative economic effects on agricultural activities and resource use. Agricultural income increases with single farm payments but the foreseen increases in prices do not compensate the loss of the Agenda 2000 area payments in terms of competitiveness. These results reinforce the need to promote alternative agricultural and non-agricultural activities and policies in Mediterranean rural European areas and regions.

(36) Evaluating an Agroforestry Approach to Woody Cuts Production in Florida

The demand for special forest products used in the floral industry has a rapidly expanding market. Woody cuts come from perennial shrubs, trees, or woody vines, and are used as floral design materials for the flowering branches, foliage, fruits, or stems. Evaluation of specialty and woody cut production is needed to determine if these plants may be adapted to sustainable agroforestry production systems. An agroforestry approach to woody cuts production for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) producers in Florida is a natural approach given the relatively open canopy of this timber species and the occurrence of several native species with ornamental characteristics that are currently utilized on a small scale for woody cuts production. The present approach to evaluating the suitability of these systems utilizes the following objectives: 1) Evaluate the production potential of ornamental species in monoculture and agroforestry silviculture systems and determine the biophysical interactions between system components. This objective will assess system design and its role on system productivity; determine time to ornamental yield. 2) Quantify the cost of establishing ornamentals for woody cuts production in both monoculture and agroforestry systems. This objective will identify and track overhead/fixed costs and variable costs associated with the ornamental cuts and timber crops for monoculture and agroforestry production systems over a 3-year period. 3) Investigate potential markets for the distribution and sale of cut foliage, flowers or stems. This objective will lead to consultations with florists and cut foliage wholesalers about potential market volume, price, and specifications for products produced within the longleaf pine agroforestry production system.

Indigenous Agroforestry Systems in Amazonia: From Prehistory to Today

Understanding the historical development of indigenous systems will provide valuable information for the design of ecologically desirable agroforestry production systems. Such studies have been relatively few, especially in Amazonia. The agroforestry systems in Amazonia follow a trail that begins with the arrival of the first hunter-gatherers in prehistoric times, followed by the domestication of plants for agriculture, the development of complex societies rich in material culture, the decimation of these societies by European diseases, warfare, and slavery, the introduction of exotic species, and finally, the present-day scenario of widespread deforestation, in which agroforestry is ascribed a potential role as an alternative land use. Despite the upheavals which occurred in colonial times, greatly reducing the population of native tribes, a review of anthropological and ethnobiological literature from recent decades indicates that a great variety of indigenous agroforestry practices still exist, ranging from deliberate planting of trees in homegardens and fields to the management of volunteer seedlings of both cultivated and wild species. These practices result in various configurations of agroforestry systems, such as homegardens, tree/crop combinations in fields, orchards of mixed fruit trees, and enriched fallows. Together they constitute a stock of knowledge developed over millenia, and represent technologies that evolved along with the domestication of native forest species and their incorporation into food production systems. This knowledge is the basis for the principal agroforestry practice employed by farmers in Amazonia today, the homegarden, and has potential to contribute to the development of other agroforestry systems.

Influence of Grass and Agroforestry Buffer Strips on Soil Hydraulic Properties for an Albaqualf

Agroforestry production systems have been introduced in temperate regions to improve water quality and diversify farm income. Agroforestry and grass–legume buffer effects on soil hydraulic properties for a Putnam soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Albaqualf) were evaluated in a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] watershed in northeastern Missouri. The no‐till management watershed was established in 1991 with agroforestry buffers implemented in 1997. Agroforestry buffers, 4.5 m wide and 36.5 m apart, consist of redtop (Agrostis gigantea Roth), brome (Bromus spp.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) with pin oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh.), swamp white oak (Q. bicolor Willd.), and bur oak (Q. macrocarpa Michx.) trees. Soil cores (7.6 cm in diam. by 7.6 cm long) were collected from the treatments from four 10‐cm depth increments to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), soil water retention, pore‐size distributions, and bulk density. Bulk density was 2.3% lower (P < 0.05) within the grass and agroforestry buffers compared with the row crop areas. Total porosity and coarse mesoporosity (60‐ to 1000‐μm diam.) were 3 and 33% higher (P < 0.05), respectively, for the grass and agroforestry buffer treatments than the row crop treatment. The Ksat was three and 14 times higher (P < 0.05) in the grass and agroforestry buffer treatments compared with the row crop treatment. Results show that the grass and agroforestry buffer treatments increased potential water storage by 0.90 cm and 1.1 cm per 30‐cm depth compared with the row crop treatment. Although the claypan horizon will dominate the surface hydrology, buffers may provide some benefit by reducing runoff from row crop management.

Tree species richness and density affect parasitoid diversity in cacao agroforestry

Summary In Brazil, cacao is mostly planted beneath shade trees. The diversity of shade trees varies from monospecific to highly diverse canopies, characteristic of pristine Atlantic Forest. This study evaluates the relationships between family richness of Hymenoptera-Parasitica and Chrysidoidea, and tree species richness and density, the species richness of herbaceous understorey, and the area and age of the cacao agroforestry system. We sampled 16 cacao agroforestry systems, with canopy diversity ranging from one to 22 tree species per hectare, in three seasons: summer (March), winter (August) and spring (November). Parasitoids were sampled using eight Malaise-Townes traps per site. Tree species richness and density were enumerated within 1ha at each site, and herbaceous plant species richness was calculated in eight 1m 2 plots, within the hectare. The number of parasitoid families increased with tree species richness and density in spring and summer, but decreased in winter. Neither species richness of herbaceous plants nor area and age of the system affected parasitoid family richness. We suggest that the increase of parasitoid diversity with tree species richness and density in warmer seasons reflects increasing heterogeneity and availability of resources. The decrease in parasitoid family number with tree density in winter may be due to local impoverishment of resources, leading to parasitoid emigration to neighbouring forest remnants. This result implies that a higher diversity of shade trees will help to maintain high parasitoid levels and, in consequence, higher levels of natural enemies of cacao pests, particularly in the warmer seasons. This prediction is borne out in the experience of cacao producers. The proper management of shade tree diversity will play a vital role in maintaining the sustainability of cacao agroforestry production systems in the tropics and, concurrently, will maintain high biodiversity values in these locations.

CHANGES IN SOIL PROPERTIES AND EARTHWORM POPULATIONS INDUCED BY LONG-TERM ORGANIC FERTILIZATION OF A SANDY SOIL IN THE VENEZUELAN AMAZONIA

In the forest-savanna ecotone around Puerto Ayacucho, in Amazonas State, Venezuela, some producers have established small (about 5 ha) agroforestry production systems (AFS) on sandy savanna soils by adding animal manure as the main fertilizer input. As a result of using organic fertilization for more than 25 years, the physical and chemical properties of the original savanna soil have changed, and the biological activity has increased. Organic amendments seem to be an alternative for sustaining agriculture in this area dominated by soils with poor structure because fertilizer and other agricultural items are expensive and need to be imported from distant regions. This paper examines the effect of long-term organic fertilization on soil properties and earthworm abundance in a natural savanna (NS) and in an AFS established for more than 25 years. Organic fertilization increased several soil fertility parameters (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg). Improved fertility status and the more conducive microclimatic conditions for soil fauna have probably allowed the establishment and dominance of earthworms as well as other components of the pedofauna population. Enhanced earthworm abundance could increase enzymatic activities as well as microbial biomass. In general, after fertilization, all Pi and Po fractions increased significantly. The increase was greatest in the P-resin and HCl-P for the inorganic P, whereas for the organic P fraction, the changes were highest for the Po-NaOH sonicated and nonsonicated fractions. (Soil Science 2004;169:188‐194)

Deposição e decomposição da serapilheira em povoamentos de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Acacia mangium e Acacia holosericea com quatro anos de idade em planossolo

Algumas espécies de leguminosas arbóreas, associadas a bactérias fixadoras de nitrogênio e a fungos micorrízicos, têm apresentado bom desenvolvimento em solos degradados. Visando avaliar a influência dessas espécies na recuperação da fertilidade do solo, mediu-se a quantidade de matéria seca e nutrientes no material formador da serapilheira, durante o ano de 1995, e na serapilheira acumulada na superfície do solo, em 1995 e 1996, e estimou-se sua velocidade de decomposição. Estudaram-se povoamentos homogêneos de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (sabiá), Acacia mangium e Acacia holosericea, em espaçamento de 4 m²/planta, em Planossolo, no campo experimental da Embrapa Agrobiologia, município de Seropédica (RJ) (22°49' S e 43°38' W, com altitude variando entre 18 e 33 m). A deposição média anual de material formador da serapilheira foi de 10 Mg ha-1, para o sabiá, e de 9 Mg ha-1, para as Acacias Em média, as folhas corresponderam a 64% do material formador da serapilheira produzido pelo sabiá e pela Acacia holosericea e 70% para Acacia mangium A parte mais rica em nutrientes do material formador da serapilheira foram as estruturas reprodutivas. A Acacia Mangium foi a espécie de maior capacidade de retranslocação interna de nutrientes, produzindo a serapilheira mais pobre em nutrientes e de menor velocidade de decomposição. A serapilheira produzida pelo sabiá foi a mais rica em nutrientes, com menor tempo de residência. As diferentes velocidades de decomposição da serapilheira dessas espécies podem ser utilizadas como estratégia para complementar necessidades nutricionais de culturas econômicas em sistemas agroflorestais e, ou, para auxiliar na recuperação de solos degradados.

Alchornea cordifolia, a promising indigenous browse species adapted to acid soils in southeastern Nigeria for integrated crop-livestock agroforestry production systems

Dry matter (DM) production, crude protein, phosphorus fibre contents and goat preference for eight indigenous browse species,Alchornea cordifolia, Diallum guineense, Ficus capensis, Baphia nitida, Manniophytum fulvum, Homalium aylmeri, Glyphaea brevis andRauwolfia vomitoria, and for two exotics,Leucaena leucocephala andGliricidia sepium, in cultivated plots were compared on acid soil in southeastern Nigeria. Total DM production was higher (P<0.05) forAlchornea cordifolia than for the other browse species.Glyphaea brevis andL. leucocephala were the most preferred species, whileA. cordifolia, G. sepium andR. vomitoria were the least. Mean crude protein content of browse species in this study was higher, whileP and neutral detergent fibre were lower than reported for other browse species in Nigeria. It is argued that the ultimate goal of a crop-livestock agroforestry system such as alley farming, could be better achieved through the complementary use of browse species.