Alley Cropping System Research Articles

Tree effects on litter mass loss at different soil depths in a young temperate alley cropping system revealed with tea bag method

Tree effects on litter mass loss at different soil depths in a young temperate alley cropping system revealed with tea bag method

Agro-Ecological Practice for Sustaining Higher Productivity of Fennel Plant Using Alley Cropping System and Endophytic Fungi

Sustainable ecological agriculture is achieved by regulating the benefits of trees. The application of leguminous trees as alley cropping protects and increases soil fertility, improves the quality of water by intercepting pesticides, changes the local climate, improves biodiversity, and thus improves productivity. In order to evaluate the impact of alley cropping upon the growth and productivity attributes of fennel, an experiment was carried out during two seasons. The experiment included eight treatments. Fennel seeds were cultivated between Sesbania alleys and treated with N and endophytic fungi according to the eight treatments. After harvesting the fennel, different parameters were determined and biochemical analyses were conducted. All of the alley cropping treatments showed remarkable superiority in all measures of fennel growth and productivity compared to the sole crop treatment. Among the different alley cropping treatments, applying Sesbania at 4 m spacing with N fertilizer and EF increased most of the studied parameters in terms of the least number of days from planting until harvesting of fennel, herb dry weight, number of umbels, fruit yield, essential oil, N, P, and K content, and pigments. In contrast, the highest plant height was recorded with fennel–Sesbania at 2 m spacing + N fertilizer + EF. Applying fennel–Sesbania at 6 m spacing + N fertilizer + EF treatment resulted in higher stem diameter and increased the number of main branches compared to the other treatments.

Soil gross N2O emission and uptake under two contrasting agroforestry systems: riparian tree buffer versus alley-cropping tree row

In addition to the removal of excess mineral nitrogen (N) via root uptake, trees in agroforestry systems may mitigate negative effects of high N fertilization of adjacent crops by enhancing complete denitrification of excess mineral N aside from root uptake. Presently, little is known about the potential for NO3− reduction through denitrification (conversion to greenhouse gas N2O and subsequently to non-reactive N2) in contrasting agroforestry systems: riparian tree buffer versus tree row of an upland alley-cropping system. Our study aimed to (1) quantify gross N2O emissions (both N2O + N2 emissions) and gross N2O uptake (N2O reduction to N2), and (2) determine their controlling factors. We employed the 15N2O pool dilution technique to quantify gross N2O fluxes from 0 to 5 cm (topsoil) and 40 to 60 cm (subsoil) depths with seasonal field measurements in 2019. The riparian tree buffer exhibited higher topsoil gross N2O emissions and uptake than the alley-cropping tree row (P < 0.03). Gross N2O emissions were regulated by N and carbon (C) availabilities and aeration status rather than denitrification gene abundance. Gross N2O uptake was directly linked to available C and nirK gene abundance. In the subsoil, gross N2O emission and uptake were low in both agroforestry systems, resulting from low mineral N contents possibly due to N uptake by deep tree roots. Nonetheless, the larger available C and soil moisture in the subsoil of riparian tree buffer than in alley-cropping tree row (P < 0.05) suggest its large potential for N2O uptake whenever NO3− is transported to the subsoil.

The Influence of Trees on Crop Yields in Temperate Zone Alley Cropping Systems: A Review

Agroforestry is a multifunctional land use system that represents a promising approach to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture while enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems and ensuring sustainable food production. However, the tree rows in agroforestry systems, particularly in alley cropping systems (ACS), can affect crop productivity on adjacent agricultural fields through various mechanisms. Hence, concerns about declining yields and reduced farm profitability persist and explain the reluctance of farmers to implement ACS on their land. In this review, we examine the available literature on the effects of temperate ACS on yields of various agricultural crops to evaluate if and to what extent crop yields in ACS are affected by tree presence. We identified that ACS crop yields often vary substantially across different species, geographical locations, weather conditions and ACS designs. Our analysis also revealed that several parameters are modified in ACS by the presence of tree rows affecting crop yields positively or negatively and that ACS design aspects play a crucial role in determining crop productivity.

Tree lines influence soil temperatures, sward growth dynamics and litter decomposition in permanent grassland

Climate change is likely to have a negative impact on soil functions in agro-ecosystems in the future. Alley cropping combines trees and agricultural crops or grassland on the same agricultural area. It has recently been discussed as more sustainable and resilient than comparable systems without trees for the temperate zone. So far, the influence of tree lines on biomass growth and decomposition of aboveground litter in the adjacent grassland is not fully clear. We measured the effect of tree lines on soil temperatures of an adjacent grass sward at five positions differing in distance and orientation (facing the tree line in the East or West) in a temperate alley-cropping system. Growth dynamics (sward height and soil cover) as well as litter half-life times for two cutting frequencies (four vs. two annual cuts) were monitored during two experimental years. The botanical composition at the transect positions was evaluated using the dry weight rank method. We found lower soil temperatures close to the trees, even though the proportion of soil cover was slightly lower close to the trees. The sward heights did not show a consistent pattern with respect to distance to the trees. Annual biomass accumulation was greatest at 6 m distance to the trees. An intermediate distance to the trees had a beneficial effect on productivity compared to the position with the lowest tree effect (25 m). Litter half-life times decreased with increasing sward height without a consistently positive/negative influence of the tree line over the examined growth periods. Lower litter half-life times in taller grass swards indicate that the sward height is the main factor driving litter decomposition while the influence of the trees is of minor importance.

Tree–wheat vertical fine root distribution in a 4-year-old temperate alley-cropping system

Tree–wheat vertical fine root distribution in a 4-year-old temperate alley-cropping system

Transect sampling for soil organic carbon monitoring in temperate alley cropping systems - A review and standardized guideline

Agroforestry systems provide significant ecosystem services, including soil organic carbon sequestration. However, the structural complexity of these systems must be considered when taking samples. In particular, when sampling in the tree- and arable- or grassland strips of alley cropping systems (ACS), different levels of tree influence must be taken into account. The heterogeneity of soil sampling approaches in ACS has been creating challenges for comparability and the integration of findings in meta-analyses. Furthermore, some of the sampling approaches have led to biases of over- or underestimation of the tree influence for the whole system. We evaluated 48 studies of a published meta-analysis on soil organic carbon sequestration in temperate agroforestry systems, to identify, document and quantify potential biases associated with transect soil sampling in ACS. In all of the 23 transect designs evaluated in detail, at least one of the six identified biases was observed. Overall, 10 out of the 23 transect designs did not include soil sampling in the tree strip, which may lead to an underestimation of the tree influence. On the other hand, an overestimation of the tree influence may occur when the tree- and arable strips are not weighted for their respective area shares, which was considered only in three transect designs. To address the identified biases and enhance the accuracy and comparability of soil organic carbon analyses in ACS we propose a standardized guideline for transect sampling in temperate ACS.

The Effect of Fertilizer Rate and Pruning Material on Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota) under Alley Cropping System

The study was conducted at the Agroforestry Farm of Sylhet Agricultural University from October 2020 to March 2021 to evaluate the growth and yield performance of carrot and determine soil fertility status during the hedge establishment period of alley cropping. Hedges for alley cropping were established using ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and vegetable hummingbirds (Sesbania grandiflora) tree species. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). During the hedge establishment period, the carrot was cultivated in the alley of the hedgerow using four different treatments with three replications. The treatments were T0 (No application of fertilizer and pruning materials), T1 (application of recommended fertilizer dose), T2 (application of half dose of the recommended fertilizer + pruning materials), and T3 (application of pruning materials). The results exhibited that growth parameters, viz. plant height (cm), leaf number per plant, root length (cm), and root diameter (cm) of carrot were almost similar in all treated plots, except control (T0). The carrot yield was statistically similar in all fertilizer and pruning materials treated plots, but it was drastically reduced in the control plots and decreased by about 40-45% compared to fertilizer and pruning materials applied plots. During hedgerow establishment, soil pH among different plots has not changed significantly compared to the initial field, but organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) in different alleys found to be increased significantly in treatment T2 and treatment T1 after carrot cultivation. Improvement in soil fertility was also found in the alleys between the hedgerows of ipil-ipil and vegetable hummingbirds when only pruning material was applied to the soil. Therefore, an alley cropping system with Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania grandiflora may enhance the yield performance of carrot and organically improve soil fertility during the hedge establishment period.

Early share of 15N-labelled fertilizer between trees and crop in young temperate alley-cropping system

Nitrogen (N) partitioning between trees and crops in alley-cropping systems (AC) may increase the N fertilizer use, but more investigation is needed to elucidate it for young trees. The aim of this study was to explore the share of N between crops and three tree species after a few years of tree establishment in AC. Using 15N labeling (10 atm% as 15NH4,15NO3 form), we traced the fate of N fertilizer in wheat associated with four-year-old trees at Ramecourt alley-cropping experimental site. The 15N abundance of tree leaves and crop whole-plant was compared between samples collected in AC, in sole-crop control (CC) and in unlabeled and unfertilized pure-forest control plots (FC). The wheat δ15N increased from 0.7 ± 0.6‰ to 994 ± 474‰ before and 12 days after labeling and remained stable until harvest. For natural abundance, no significant difference in wheat δ15N was observed between AC and CC. The same result was observed for labeled treatment. The percentage of wheat N derived from fertilizer was on average 27 ± 17% and no effect of type of system or associated tree species was observed. Tree foliar δ15N was multiplied by 1.5, 1.8 and 4 for willow, hornbeam and wild cherry respectively compared to unlabeled trees in AC. The percentage of tree foliar N derived from fertilizer was on average 0.04 ± 0.04% and no significant difference was observed between tree species. The wheat associated with trees allocated significantly more tracer N to ears than wheat in monocrop. From this study, we succeeded in quantifying the beginning of tree/crop sharing of N fertilizer using labeling method and evidenced tree species effect. Young trees in AC contributed to valorize the N fertilizer without significant effect on global wheat uptake and favored its valorization in wheat grain.

Influence of two agroforestry systems on the nitrification potential in temperate pastures in Brittany, France

Background and aimsAgroforestry, whereby trees are associated with crops and/or livestock, is expected to mitigate nitrogen (N) losses from agriculture. However, little is known about how nitrification potential, an important process that drives N losses, is affected by agroforestry systems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different silvopastoral agroforestry systems on soil nitrification potential.MethodsNitrification potential was evaluated in two agroforestry systems (hedgerow and alley cropping) associated with temporary grasslands in Brittany, France. In each system, soil was sampled along a transect spanning from the center of the tree row into the grass alley. Soil nitrification potential was determined ex situ and was explained by univariate and multivariate analysis of variables describing vegetation, physicochemical soil properties, and soil organisms.ResultsNitrification potential differed between the two agroforestry systems and among the positions in relation to the trees. In the alley cropping system, nitrification potential was on average 1.5 times higher in the tree row than at 1.5 and 10 m into the grass alley, while in the hedgerow system, nitrification potential at 1.5 m into the grass alley was on average 40% lower than at 10 m into the grass alley. Nitrification potential was strongly correlated with soil pH, whereas no correlation was observed between nitrification potential and community size of soil nitrifiers.ConclusionOur results point out the diverse effects of agroforestry systems on nitrification, a key soil process that is involved in the regulation of N losses.

Maize weed control in tropical alley-cropping systems using foliage of different tree species as soil cover

Maize weed control in tropical alley-cropping systems using foliage of different tree species as soil cover

Yield Performance of Three Sulawesi Local Aromatic Upland Rice Varieties at Various Planting Spacing Distance with Alley Cropping System

The experiement was carried out to examine the production performance of 3 local Sulawesi aromatic upland rice varieties planted with the alley cropping system at various planting distances pattern in Sampano Village, South Larompong District, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi from February to June 2022. Plant spacing and selection of more adaptive varieties was one aspect for testing. The plants were laid out in a Split Plots Design in a factorial Randomized Completely Block Design. The main plots were 3 local varieties of Ngapa, Sassa, and Latimojong. Subplots were planting spacing consisting of random spacing (spread), 25 cm x 25 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm, and 15 cm x 15 cm. The results showed that 15 cm x 15 cm was the best spacing for planting local aromatic upland rice varieties in the alley cropping system which produced 1,433.24 kg dry grain weight per hectare, while Ngappa variety outperformed Sassa and Latimojong by registering 1,350 kg/ha.

Spatial distribution of tree and grassland fine roots in an alley cropping system

Alley cropping systems are known as more sustainable land use alternatives compared to monoculture cropland. In addition to the improvement of above-ground structures and creation of biotopes relevant to nature conservation, the improvement of resource development through various root systems plays a major role. We studied the interaction of the root systems in an alley cropping system combining permanent grassland and willows and at a reference grassland site. The system was established 12 years prior to our study on a site with a shallow groundwater table at 130 cm depth. We measured carbon stocks in the topsoil and determined the share of root-bound carbon relative to the total carbon pool and extracted soil cores up to a depth of 150 cm along a distance gradient to the trees and at a reference grassland site with no tree influence. The maximal rooting depth of the grassland roots increased with increasing distance to the tree lines and total root biomass was higher than under the grassland reference up to a distance of 2.5 m from the tree line. Tree roots extended up to a distance of 5.5 m from the trees and we could distinguish zones of tree root dominance very close to the trees, zones of grassland root dominance at distances ≥ 8.5 m and an interaction zone in between those two extremes. We conclude that alley cropping increases belowground biomass as compared to grassland and has therefore a higher potential to store carbon in the subsoil.

Alley cropping tree lines alter temperature and light quantity and influence daily growth rates of grassland

AbstractTrees alter microclimate and radiation budget in alley cropping systems, which in turn change physiological processes of the grassland component. The influence of the trees on grassland growth depends on the climate zone as well as possibly on weather conditions during the respective growth interval. The proportion of shade‐tolerant species in the grassland further modifies the tree effect on grassland growth, as well as the number of annual harvests. We studied the effect of distance and orientation relative to the tree line (tree line in the South‐West vs. North‐East) on growth rates of the adjacent grassland with two cutting frequencies (frequent vs. infrequent) in an alley cropping system with grassland of two different vegetation compositions (diverse vs. grass‐clover) and willow clones. Microclimate parameters and radiation were measured at the points where growth rates were determined to better characterize the effect of position relative to the tree line. Growth rates differed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) depending on the distance to the trees and annual biomass accumulation amounted to 389 ± 13.5 g m−2 in the center vs. 321 ± 10.0 g m−2 with trees in the North‐East vs. 292 ± 9.2 g m−2 with trees in the South‐West of the transect position. Lower growth rates occurred at positions with lower light quantities close to the trees, namely the position with the trees adjacent in the South‐West. Temperature and relative humidity differences between the distances were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) affected by distance to the tree line, but differences in neither soil nor air temperatures between the distances affected growth rates. Vegetation composition mediates the influence of the trees: the difference between positions was more pronounced in the diverse vegetation composition with higher productivities in the center between the alleys, but also with higher overall sward productivity.

Agronomic performance of soybean and sorghum in a short rotation poplar coppice alley-cropping system under Mediterranean conditions

The transition from conventional arable towards silvoarable systems can increase the delivery of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, the assessment of crop yield under agroforestry condition is crucial to evaluate of the reliability of these systems and to increase the knowledge base needed to support their design. Although the feasibility of poplar short rotation coppice (SRC) silvoarable alley-cropping systems has been widely investigated, few studies have addressed the agronomic response of crops intercropped with poplar SRC in narrow alleys, especially in Mediterranean environments. Thus, this paper treats the effects of SRC poplar rows on soybean and sorghum productivity in a 2-year rotation implemented in an alley-cropping system. A field experiment was carried out in 2018 and 2019 with the objective of measuring and evaluating effects of light availability variation, as affected by the growing rate of 2-year coppice cycle poplar SRC rows, and the soil characteristics on soybean-sorghum and sorghum–soybean rotations. Above-ground biomass, grain yield and crops residue showed a significant reduction in the tree–crop interface up to 74% and sorghum proved to be less tolerant to light reduction compared to soybean. Our results demonstrated that light is the most important factor for sorghum cultivation, despite grain yield was also influenced by the soil characteristics such as pH, while soybean is affected also by soil moisture and water retention capacity. The design of crop rotation in an SRC-based agroforestry system needs to consider the different agronomic performance of different crops and the harvest cycle of tree rows.

Alley cropping agroforestry systems change weed community composition and reduce dominant weed species associated with corn in southern Mexico

Alley cropping systems can change the weed community composition and reduce common weed species. However, it is unclear how different woody species intercalated with corn can affect weed abundance and community structure and corn yield in the tropics. The present study examined weed species diversity and community composition in alley cropping systems with three woody species associated with corn: Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., and Moringa oleifera Lam. independently, and corn monoculture, as a control. The tree most dominant weed species were Ruellia nudiflora (Engelm. & A. Gray) Urb., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., and Portulaca pilosa L. Our results showed that the alley cropping system compared with corn monoculture reduced the densities of common abundant weed species, changed weed community composition, maintained or increased plant diversity, but did not affect grain yield (t/h). Based on the sample completeness profile we found that Leucaena associated with corn had a higher weed diversity of order q = 1 and 2 (Shannon and Simpson index) and showed higher evenness compared with corn monoculture, which showed the lowest evenness of all treatments. We found nine weed species that only grow in alley cropping systems and Waltheria americana L., Momordica charantia L. and Porophyllum punctatum (Mill) S.F. Blake. with higher densities. Our findings support the hypothesis that alley cropping systems not only changes weed community composition, but also favours biodiversity conservation without reducing corn yield.

The Effect of Tree Spacing on Yields of Alley Cropping Systems-A Case Study from Hungary.

Alley cropping is a specific agroforestry system, which is regarded as sustainable land use management, that could play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Despite its appealing attributes, farmers' up-take of the system is slow in temperate regions. This study aims to contribute to scaling-up agroforestry through a case study in Hungary and to help to design productive alley cropping systems. We investigated which tree planting pattern of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) results in the most productive alley cropping system when intercropped with triticale (x Triticosecale W.) by statistically analysing the yields of the intercrop and of the trees in nine different layouts and by calculating land equivalent ratios (LER). There was significant difference between the treatments both in triticale and black locust yields. The more trees planted on a hectare, the higher the volume of the stand, and the less yield of triticale was observed, although the latter correlation was weak and in some cases the triticale was more productive between the trees compared with sole crop control. Eight out of nine treatments had favourable LER (0.94-1.35) when the trees were five years old. Black locust and triticale seem to be a good combination for productive alley cropping systems.

RENDIMIENTO DE BANANO DÁTIL EN SISTEMA DE CALLEJONES DE Inga spp., A DIFERENTES DOSIS DE FERTILIZANTES DE POTASIO Y FOSFORO

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;the agronomic yield of crops of importance for rural households in the humid tropics, such as banana, cultivated in association with leguminous trees, such as Inga spp., must be studied because of the little available information on that association, especially with regards to yield response to the application of P and K under agroforestry systems, and the interaction between organic (leguminous residues) and inorganic sources of nutrients. &lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;the objective of this study was to evaluate the yield of lady finger banana alley cropped with &lt;em&gt;Inga&lt;/em&gt; spp., under several levels of natural fertilizers such as K&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; + Mg, and phosphoric rock (RF). &lt;strong&gt;Methodology: &lt;/strong&gt;Yield response of lady finger banana (&lt;em&gt;Musa acuminata &lt;/em&gt;Colla) under an alley cropping system with guama (&lt;em&gt;Inga&lt;/em&gt; spp.). Prior to the establishment of the crop, dolomitic lime (Ca&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;(PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;)&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;CaF&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) at a rate of 2 ton ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; was applied. In addition, phosphoric rock (RF) was added to the crop at diverse levels (0, 20, 40, 80 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), and potassium sulphate and magnesium (K&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; + Mg) at three levels (0, 45, 90 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) with five replicates in a total of 35 alleys for treatments. &lt;em&gt;Inga&lt;/em&gt; spp. trees provided with nitrogen (N). Two crop cycles were evaluated, cycle 1 (2015) and cycle 2 (2017). &lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;the highest average weight per bunch were obtained with 80 FP and 0 RF in the first cycle, and with 90 K and 45 K in the second cycle, which were significantly higher than other levels. The highest yield on yearly basis was 45 K among the treatments during the first cycle, and the highest yields during the second cycle were obtained with 45 y 90 K&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; + Mg. &lt;strong&gt;Implications:&lt;/strong&gt; There are no prior studies for lady finger banana crop associated with &lt;em&gt;Inga &lt;/em&gt;spp. trees under alley cropping, this reflects that the study is an original contribution to nutrient-response studies under agroforestry system with Inga. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; the highest yields were obtained with 90 and 45 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of potassium sulphate and magnesium. The application of dolomitic lime promoted P and K availability for the crop, and better use of applied K&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; + Mg and of RF in the treatments.&lt;/p&gt;

Trees in temperate alley-cropping systems develop deep fine roots 5 years after plantation: What are the consequences on soil resources?

Trees in alley-cropping systems (AC) were reported to develop deeper fine roots compared to forest trees and that they can modify soil water (SWC), mineral nitrogen (SMN) and organic matter (SOM) content. However, intercropping young trees has not been studied extensively. This study aimed to count tree fine roots abundance (TFRA) along a chronosequence of AC stands, to determine factors explaining its variability and to highlight its effects on soil resources. Seventeen alley-cropping plots ranging from 3 to 12 years old were chosen on farms in northern France. TFRA was measured by the core break method using soil samples collected at 0, 1, 3 and 10 m from a referent tree (a maple, a hybrid walnut or a hornbeam) down to 2 m depth. Before four years old, tree fine roots colonized the topsoil (0–30 cm) in rows and then mainly grew vertically from 4 to 6 years old, before laterally exploring deep soil layer (1–2 m) beyond this age. Stepwise analyses showed that stand age, tillage frequency and crop rotation duration explained 60 % of the variability of the sum of TFRA calculated for all soil layers at all distances from the tree row. The SWC was negatively correlated to TFRA suggesting that as trees get older, they dried the deep soil layer below the crop rooting zone and increased the soil depth able to store autumn and winter rainfall. No significant effect of either stand age or distance from tree rows was observed for SMN. It varied significantly with soil depth (R² = 0.3***) and was strongly correlated with soil nitrate content (R² = 0.97***). The soil ammonium content was significantly correlated with TFRA, suggesting that tree fine roots favor ammonium production or accumulation in soil, which may potentially allow for a reduction in the mineral nitrogen (N) mobility for leaching. Finally, we found a significantly high SOM correlated with TFRA only in topsoil on the tree rows at our oldest stands. No change of SOM was observed in the deep soil layer regardless of stand age. From this study, we concluded that fine root plasticity of intercropped trees occurred at early stage and may contribute with age to a better use of soil water, to managing the soil mineral N dynamic and to sequestrating carbon, at least in tree rows.

Agroecological and agroforestry strategies to improve organic hibiscus productivity in an Indigenous non-governmental organization from Mexico

Abstract La Montaña region, in southern Mexico, is characterized as a highly human-modified landscape with a rough topography, extreme poverty and structural violence. In this region, Xuajin Me'Phaa, an Indigenous non-governmental organization conformed by ca. 300 peasants, implements productive restoration projects and trades organic hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) as its main monetary income. Nonetheless currently, organic hibiscus yield is low compared to the potential yields in the region. Thus, it is necessary to explore alternative sustainable land management systems which enable farmers to increase hibiscus crop productivity, while halting land degradation. This study assessed the impact of six different agroecological fertilization protocols (AFPs) on hibiscus productivity planted in an alley cropping system with Calliandra houstoniana trees. The AFPs were based on the combination of three local plant amendments: C. houstoniana mulch, Mucuna pruiriens var. utilis green manure and hibiscus stover, and a commercial bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum + Rhizophagus). Simultaneously, the performance of C. houstoniana trees was assessed. The AFPs were applied in the alley cropping system and evaluated from 2016 to 2018. After 3 years, in the AFPs which included C. houstoniana mulch, hibiscus yielded significantly more (419 ± 27 kg dry calyxes ha−1 in average) than AFPs which did not include this species (264 ± 15 kg ha−1). The 18-month-old C. houstoniana trees yielded 0.6 t ha−1 of dry biomass and 1.12 t ha−1 of wooden stakes, a relatively low production. In conclusion, our results show that alley cropping with a denser arrangement of C. houstoniana trees in combination with mulching of this tree species, and use of mucuna green manure represent a promising agroforestry system for organic hibiscus production.