Agroforestry Systems Research Articles

Understanding how agroforestry systems biodiversity drives ecosystem services in degraded habitats.

Understanding how agroforestry systems biodiversity drives ecosystem services in degraded habitats.

Variation in biomass and soil carbon storage and sequestration rates in different agroforestry systems with climatic zones and soil types

Variation in biomass and soil carbon storage and sequestration rates in different agroforestry systems with climatic zones and soil types

A review on the role of living labs in advancing sustainable practices in rural areas: Insights from agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry systems

A review on the role of living labs in advancing sustainable practices in rural areas: Insights from agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry systems

Standardization of tree species in agroforestry systems of Coffea arabica L. at different altitudes in Amazonas, Peru

Standardization of tree species in agroforestry systems of Coffea arabica L. at different altitudes in Amazonas, Peru

Landscape context influences local management effects on birds and bats in Amazonian cacao agroforestry systems

Landscape context influences local management effects on birds and bats in Amazonian cacao agroforestry systems

Nanosilicon-based vermicompost leachate and Trichoderma harzianum promote the growth of Panax quinquefolius L. cultivated under forests by improving soil enzyme activity.

Nanosilicon-based vermicompost leachate and Trichoderma harzianum promote the growth of Panax quinquefolius L. cultivated under forests by improving soil enzyme activity.

Enhancing Crop Sustainability through Climate-Resilient Agronomic Practices

This review aims to contribute to a holistic understanding of sustainable crop production strategies in the face of climate variability, offering insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working at the intersection of agriculture and climate resilience. Climate change poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity, directly impacting food security, farmer livelihoods, and the sustainability of cropping systems. Increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, extended droughts, and frequent extreme weather events are disrupting conventional agricultural practices, particularly in vulnerable regions. In this context, climate-resilient agronomic practices have emerged as crucial adaptive strategies to sustain and enhance crop production under changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances and innovative approaches in climate-resilient agronomy, emphasizing sustainable practices that optimize resource use efficiency, conserve soil and water, and improve crop tolerance to climatic stresses. The use of crop varieties that are resistant to heat and drought, conservation agriculture methods, integrated nutrient and water management, precision farming, crop diversification, and agroforestry systems are some of the important practices that are covered. Agronomic practices treated in this review, such as the application of stress-tolerant crop varieties, conservation agriculture practices, integrated nutrient and water management, precision farming, and agroforestry, have been proven effective in various agro-ecological environments. Furthermore, the study also discussed how organic amendments, biofertilizers, and climate-wise smart soil management strategies might improve soil health and carbon sequestration. To further on-farm risk management and decision-making, the paper also examines the integration of digital agriculture tools including remote sensing, weather forecasting, and decision support systems. This review emphasizes the need for a systems-based agronomic approach that fits production goals with environmental sustainability by combining recent research findings and successful field-level interventions. The results support increasing policy support, farmer capacity-building, and technology distribution to encourage broad application of climate-resilient agronomic practices. Food and nutritional security, improved farm incomes, and resilience in agricultural systems against the negative effects of climate change depend on such efforts.

Termite-tree-soil interactions in cocoa agroforestry systems: farmer perceptions of ecological dynamics, practices and challenges in three ecological zones of Ghana

Termite-tree-soil interactions in cocoa agroforestry systems: farmer perceptions of ecological dynamics, practices and challenges in three ecological zones of Ghana

Changes in Soil Carbon Stocks and Vegetative Indices in the Transitional Phases from Degraded Grassland to an Agroforestry System in the Cerrado Region, Brazil

ABSTRACT Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key soil property used to predict the impacts of land-use changes as well as to indicate soil health status. The vegetative indices (VI) derived from remote-sensing data, such as soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) are important indices reflecting crop growth and biomass. They can be related to soil organic carbon changes in large-scale environments. However, there is little information in the literature about the relationship between VI and soil carbon changes over the transition of different farming practices from degraded grassland to an agroforestry system. This study aimed to determine the relationship between soil C stocks and VI over the transition of degraded grassland (DGL) to agroforestry (AgrfS) in the Brazilian Cerrado. Soil organic stocks, NDVI, SAVI and NDMI were measured from 2011 to 2015, when the area passed from a low-productivity grassland, followed by a crop-pasture intercropping system and an agroforestry system. The transitional phases from degraded grassland to agroforestry system promoted surprisingly large gains in soil carbon stocks, ranging from 41.7 Mg C ha−1 in DGL to 68.4 Mg C ha−1 in AgrfS. Similar to soil carbon stocks, the mean VI values increased over the years from DGL to AgrfS, indicating the importance of vegetation indices to predict soil carbon stocks changes over the restoration of degraded grasslands.

Tanggapan Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Varietas Jagung Hibrida terhadap Pemupukan Nitrogen dalam Sistem Agroforestri

The main issue with hybrid maize is its low nitrogen uptake, ranging from 30% to 50%. This study aims to improve nitrogen fertilization efficiency by selecting hybrid maize varieties in an agroforestry system. The research was conducted from January to April 2024 at the Menggoran Forest Management Resort (RPH Menggoran), Playen, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. A split-plot experimental design was employed, with 15 hybrid maize varieties as the main plot and urea fertilization as the subplot. The results revealed that nitrogen fertilization in the agroforestry system increased grain weight by 25%–68% compared to no fertilization. The highest grain weight was observed in the Pertiwi 6 and KS-89 Monster varieties, even without nitrogen fertilization. Meanwhile, the ADV Jago, Bomber R101, Turbo B-59, Si Tampan, and Twinn 1 varieties produced high grain weights when nitrogen fertilizer was applied.

Performance Evaluation of Growth and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Pongamia [Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre] Germplasms

Agroforestry has emerged as a powerful land management practise to address the shrinking land holdings, size and reduced productivity of the land with improved ecosystem services. In recent decades, evaluation of the germplasms, particularly in Agroforestry systems is gaining a lot of importance in tree improvement programmes. The genetic section involves the selection of desired attributes, such as stress tolerance, increased wood properties, pest & disease resistance, etc. Pongamia based agroforestry system not only helps to mitigate climate change, but it will also have a significant share in the global biofuel production. The study was conducted in the ‘M’ block of AICRP on Agroforestry unit, ZARS, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, during January 2022 to June 2022. The objective of this study is to compare the growth parameters (tree height, stem diameter and crown width in East-West & North-South directions) and carbon sequestration potential of eight Pongamia germplasms to identify the most productive genotype. These eight germplasms are established in 5 x 5 spacing of RCBD design in three replications. The results revealed that RAK-2015-10 performed better for height growth, stem diameter and crown spread (East-West and North-South directions) compared to other germplasms. Since the tree height and stem diameter positively correlate with volume and biomass accumulation, RAK-2015-10 has recorded the maximum volume and biomass accumulation among the other germplasms. .The findings suggest that the cultivation of RAK-2015-10 can improve yield significantly and helps to mitigate climate change.

Exploring Agroforestry Systems and Their Practitioners in Mid Hills of Nepal

Farmers of Nepal have a long history of integrating agriculture and forestry in the same piece of land as agroforestry (AF). Farmers of different socioeconomic characteristics have practiced different agro-ecological practices on their farmlands. This research was carried out in Raksirang Rural Municipality of Makawanpur District in the mid-hill region of Nepal, to explore major AF systems and determine the characteristics associated with farmers' adoption decisions. Data were collected using direct observation and different social survey techniques: household survey (n=80), focus group discussions (n=2) and key informant interviews (n=9). Two types of AF systems were found to be adopted at the study site, i.e., farm-based and forest-based. Agri-silviculture, agri-silvipasture and home gardening were commonly practiced systems. Landholding size, literacy rate, involvement in leasehold forest and provision of training are the major factors affecting the adoption of the AF system. There was no significant relation between the livestock unit and cast with the adoption of an agroforestry system. In-depth studies on the dynamism of agroforestry systems are recommended.

Navigating Europe's agricultural transition: Systemic policy approaches to mixed farming and agroforestry

Mixed farming and agroforestry systems offer the potential to optimise resource use and reduce environmental impacts by integrating crops, livestock and trees. By improving soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, these diversified farming systems can help to build sustainable, resilient and climate-smart adapted agri-food systems and make farms more resilient to climate change. However, barriers to widespread adoption include financial constraints, knowledge gaps, and regulatory barriers. To support the transition to more sustainable agri-food systems, policymakers need to align CAP support with sustainability goals. Simplifying regulations and strengthening research, knowledge-sharing networks, and farmer training will enable the implementation and optimal management of these systems. Cooperation between farms can improve circularity and resource efficiency, including at landscape level. The public goods provided by sustainable agriculture need to be remunerated to ensure viability. Increasing consumer awareness and integrating mixed farming products into mainstream value chains can provide remuneration in the markets, but public funding for sustainable farming practices is likely to remain necessary. As CAP reforms continue, the integration of mixed farming systems into agricultural landscapes will be crucial for long-term environmental and economic resilience. The success of these reforms will determine how well European agriculture adapts to climate challenges while ensuring food security and ecosystem sustainability.

Detailing the results of the assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of delegated powers in the field of forest relations: a resource-economic approach.

Relevance. The article considers the problem of assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of delegated powers in the field of forest relations using a resource-based economic approach. The authors analyze the key aspects of the use of forest resources. The study identifies the main problems and offers recommendations for optimizing the processes of forestry organization to increase the efficiency of resource use. The necessity of a differentiated approach to assessment, which takes into account the specifics of forestry, is substantiated. The purpose is to study and analyze the factors and circumstances influencing the assessment of delegated powers in the resource and economic potential of the subjects of the sparsely wooded zone of the Central Federal District. Objectives: to formulate regulations and identify priority areas for complementing the methods for assessing the effectiveness of using forest resources in a sparsely wooded area. Methodology. The study used the official statistical reference books of the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, materials from web resources (official portals), publications of periodicals and conditional periodicals. Results. The forest-deficient regions of the Central Federal District (Voronezh, Lipetsk and Tambov regions) are characterized by a low level of forest cover and predominantly protected forests, which limits their commercial use. The study substantiates the need to increase forest plantations, intensify recreational and protective forest management, as well as create and reconstruct agroforestry facilities. The use of neural network tools for modeling the rational allocation of economic entities and the development of regional economic space is proposed, which will increase the efficiency of using forest resources. The problems of transfer of powers in the field of forest relations are considered and criteria for increasing the accuracy of assessing their effectiveness are proposed. Conclusions. The sparsely wooded regions of the Central Federal District require an increase in forest plantations, the development of recreational and protective forest management, as well as the optimization of agroforestry systems. The use of neural network models is proposed for effective management of forest resources. It is important to adapt the mechanisms of transfer of forest authority, taking into account regional specifics. The implementation of these measures will enhance the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the Territories.

Diversity, structure and socioeconomic importance of agroforestry systems in buffer zones of Bouba Ndjidda National Park, Cameroon

Diversity, structure and socioeconomic importance of agroforestry systems in buffer zones of Bouba Ndjidda National Park, Cameroon

Study Of Coffee-Based Agroforestry Systems In Community Forests

Climate is an important factor in the growth and productivity of coffee plants. This research aims to determine the climate conditions regarding the use of shade on the development and productivity of coffee plants. This observation was carried out on agroforestry coffee plantations in Kare District, Madiun Regency. The coffee plants observed were 4 to 6 years old, and the shade used in the observations was Gamal, Dadap, and Sengon trees. Thus, based on the results of observations carried out over four months, it was found that the highest results were in Sengon stands, with an average of 27.2-27.7°C in January and March in terms of air temperature. Meanwhile, the highest observed humidity occurred in the first month and January at 76%. The highest wind speed occurs in April at 4 -5 km/hour. The highest intensity of light produced occurs in April at 8005 LUX. The results of these observations prove that the use of shade plants does not significantly affect the production and growth of coffee plants.

Predicted yield and soil organic carbon changes in agroforestry, woodland, grassland, and arable systems under climate change in a cool temperate Atlantic climate

The impact of a changing climate on crop and tree growth remains complex and uncertain. Whilst some areas may benefit from longer growing seasons and increased CO2 levels, others face threats from more frequent extreme weather events. Models can play a pivotal role in predicting future agricultural and forestry scenarios as they can guide decision-making by investigating the interactions of crops, trees, and the environment. This study used the biophysical EcoYield-SAFE agroforestry model to account for the atmospheric CO2 fertilization and calibrated the model using existing field measurements and weather data from 1989 to 2021 in a case study in Northern Ireland. The study then looked at two future climate scenarios based on the representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for 2020–2060 and 2060–2100. The predicted net impacts of future climate scenarios on grass and arable yields and tree growth were positive with increasing CO2 fertilization, which more than offset a generally negative effect of increased temperature and drought stress. The predicted land equivalent ratio remained relatively constant for the baseline and future climate scenarios for silvopastoral and silvoarable agroforestry. Greater losses of soil organic carbon were predicted under arable (1.02–1.18 t C ha−1 yr−1) than grassland (0.43–0.55 t C ha−1 yr−1) systems, with relatively small differences between the baseline and climate scenarios. However, the predicted loss of soil organic carbon was reduced in the long-term by planting trees. The model was also used to examine the effect of different tree densities on the trade-offs between timber volume and understory crop yields. To our best knowledge this is the first study that has calibrated and validated a model that accounts for the effect of CO2 fertilization and determined the effect of future climate scenarios on arable, grassland, woodland, silvopastoral, and silvoarable systems at the same site in Europe.

Insectivorous Birds Dominate Across Land-Use Gradient Revealing Unexpected Ecological Resilience in Tropical Forest-Coffee Landscapes

Vegetation is essential for birds to fulfil their life requirements. Monoculture coffee plantations, coffee-based agroforestry systems, and forests in HKm Wana Jaya provide potential habitats for various animal species, including birds. This research assessed bird diversity, richness, evenness, species dominance, feeding guilds, and conservation status across these three land cover types. The point count method was employed for data collection. Data were quantitatively analysed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, the Margalef richness index, the Pielou evenness index, and the Simpson dominance index. The study recorded 35 bird species from 19 families comprising 167 individuals. Species diversity values across all three land cover types fell within the moderate category, with forest exhibiting the highest value (2.988), followed by coffee agroforestry (2.648) and monoculture coffee (2.035). The highest species richness was found in the forest (5.429) and the lowest in monoculture coffee (2.970). The highest species evenness was recorded in coffee agroforestry (0.935) and the lowest in monoculture coffee (0.849), while species dominance values across all three land cover types were categorised as low (0.061-0.172). Insectivorous birds dominated feeding guilds across all habitat types, revealing unexpected ecological resilience. Of the species recorded, 29 are classified as Least Concern, two as Vulnerable, four as Near Threatened, while 10 species are protected under national legislation, and three species are listed in CITES Appendix II. The findings suggest that while forests maintain the highest biodiversity value, coffee agroforestry systems can provide crucial supplementary bird conservation habitats in modified landscapes.

Implementation of agroforestry system for improved performance and sustainability of coffee farming in west Lampung regency, Indonesia

The global coffee industry, including in Indonesia, faces economic and environmental sustainability challenges, with low productivity and negative impacts of climate change. Although agroforestry systems can be a solution to address these challenges, the adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers is still low. This study aims to analyze the performance and sustainability of coffee farming by comparing three farming systems: coffee monoculture system (CMS), simple agroforestry system (SAFS), and complex agroforestry system (CAFS), and formulate strategies to improve the sustainability of coffee farming. A survey approach involving 210 coffee farmers in two sub-districts in West Lampung assessed farm performance based on farm productivity and income. Sustainability was analyzed using the Multi-Aspect Sustainability Analysis (MSA) method. The results showed that CAFS significantly improved coffee farming performance. The sustainability analysis showed that the sustainability value of coffee farming in West Lampung Regency with CAFS (60.20) shows the highest sustainability value compared to SAFS (57.39) and CMS (53.80). These findings confirm that agroforestry implementation elevates coffee farming's sustainability value. Key improvement strategies target multiple factors: enhanced land conservation, road access, increased capital availability, improved market access, higher productivity, strengthened safety and security, microfinance institution development, corporate cooperation, quality seedlings, and advanced harvesting techniques.

A review of appropriate use of agroforestry residues for biogas production and prospects

Making bioenergy from waste or residue is one of the innovative and valuable ways to use renewable resources in addition to wind and solar energy. Many poor countries can benefit from this as they attempt to address the enormous amounts of rubbish left in landfills. This waste could be liquid (oil and wastewater) or solid (food and agricultural and agroforestry wastes). These consist of waste or agroforestry residues, like tree stumps and leftover leaves from timber harvest. Its’ all produced via an agroforestry system. Waste has a detrimental impact on the ecosystem and, consequently, all living organisms. One solution to this waste issue is to use garbage as a resource to produce beneficial products like biogas using compressed bioenergy production equipment. In this work, bibliometric methodologies were employed to assess global research advancements in bioenergy production from garbage through the Scopus database and developments in bioenergy production from waste. This review study assumed that agroforestry waste may be an optimistic substrate for biogas production in developing countries due to its widespread availability. Compressed biogas production, among other alternatives, is a workable solution to the countrys’ current energy issues and is safe for the environment because it emits no pollutants.