Alley Cropping Research Articles

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

<p><strong>Background: </strong>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. <strong>Objective: </strong>the objective of this study was to evaluate the yield of lady finger banana alley cropped with <em>Inga</em> spp., under several levels of natural fertilizers such as K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + Mg, and phosphoric rock (RF). <strong>Methodology: </strong>Yield response of lady finger banana (<em>Musa acuminata </em>Colla) under an alley cropping system with guama (<em>Inga</em> spp.). Prior to the establishment of the crop, dolomitic lime (Ca<sub>3</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>CaF<sub>2</sub>) at a rate of 2 ton ha<sup>-1</sup> was applied. In addition, phosphoric rock (RF) was added to the crop at diverse levels (0, 20, 40, 80 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>), and potassium sulphate and magnesium (K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + Mg) at three levels (0, 45, 90 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) with five replicates in a total of 35 alleys for treatments. <em>Inga</em> spp. trees provided with nitrogen (N). Two crop cycles were evaluated, cycle 1 (2015) and cycle 2 (2017). <strong>Results: </strong>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<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + Mg. <strong>Implications:</strong> There are no prior studies for lady finger banana crop associated with <em>Inga </em>spp. trees under alley cropping, this reflects that the study is an original contribution to nutrient-response studies under agroforestry system with Inga. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> the highest yields were obtained with 90 and 45 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> of potassium sulphate and magnesium. The application of dolomitic lime promoted P and K availability for the crop, and better use of applied K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + Mg and of RF in the treatments.</p>

Intensification of Forage Production and Quality Parameters: A Review

India supports nearly 20 per cent of the world’s livestock population on just 2.2 per cent of the world’s geographical area. The fodder production in the country is not sufficient to meet the requirement of growing livestock population and country faces a net deficit of 61.1% in green fodder, 21.9% in dry crop residues and 64% in feeds. This puts a tremendous pressure to increase fodder and forage production to meet the diet demands of increasing livestock population. Intensification of fodder and forage can be done by increasing productivity per unit area that can be achieved by integration of fodder crops in the cropping systems as intercrops, round the year forage production and introduction of fodder and forage crops in tree crops as alley crops. In addition to the intensification, the quality parameters of forage are equally important to be stressed upon. Important components that determine forage quality include fats, carbohydrates, crude protein, percent dry matter, pH etc. Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANF) in plants reduce the intake or nutrient utilization and determines the extent of uing those plants a fodder for livestock. The presence of anti- nutritional components viz., nitrates, tannins, oxalates, mimosine, cyanogens, Saponins, BOAA ( Benzo-Oxalic Acetic Acid) limit the forage and fodder consumption. For the lean periods in which land may not be accessible for forage production, forage conservation is the best measure to meet the fodder demands. The forage conservation methods include hay making and silage making. These strategic measures will ensure food and nutritional security by supplying quality food and nutritional security by supplying quality fodder and forage for animals.

Fruit based agroforestry systems - potential means for sustaining carbon sequestration, improving soil health and diet of community in red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Fruit-based agroforestry systems (AFS) can assure food security towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and improvement in carbon sequestration, soil qualities of low-fertile degraded land. Those were revealed through observations on farmers’ practices, literature reviews and results from different agroforestry arrangements of mango with gamhar and eucalyptus; and sweet orange with gamhar for two years (2017-18 to 2018-19) of alley cropping with pigeon pea, green gram, cowpea and toria in ongoing AF experiments at Regional Research Station (Red & Lateritic Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal, India. Total carbon stock as well as potential food energy production were higher in AFS than either in sole silvi tree, fruit tree or plots under alley crops, because of better performances of all tree and crop components in AFS. Mango with eucalyptus-based AFS gave higher carbon stock (62.33 t ha-1 yr-1) including improvement in degraded acidic soil pH (6.20%), SOC (11.86%), available N (9.09%), available P (13.97%), available K (11.64%) contents in soil. In that way, fruit-based agroforestry systems can be used as a viable alternative land use to improve soil health, diet and livelihood security even of resource-poor farm families throughout the year, especially during their impoverished needy times in a year.

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.

Alley Cropping System in Degraded Land of Central India: Evaluation of Crop Performance, Economic Benefit and Soil Nutrients Availability

Alley Cropping System in Degraded Land of Central India: Evaluation of Crop Performance, Economic Benefit and Soil Nutrients Availability

Short-term trade-offs of organic matter management strategies for smallholder farms

Organic matter management (OMM) strategies such as farmyard manure (FYM) application, legume integration, crop residue incorporation, and alley cropping are recognized for improving soil fertility and crop productivity. However, studies on yield and economics of a combination of such strategies on smallholder farms are generally scarce, yet an understanding of such can enhance adoption. This study analyzed the yield and gross margins of crops grown with OMM strategies in comparison to those grown under inorganic fertilizer application on smallholder farms. Field experiments with five treatments over two short rainy (SR) and two long rainy (LR) seasons were conducted from January 2018 to February 2020 on 10 smallholder farms. The treatments (T) included T1 (control): the inorganic fertilizer application strategy that involved maize monocrop with 50 kg/ha Diammonium phosphate (DAP) application and the OMM strategies (T2-T5). T2: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; T3: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + 2.5 tons/ha FYM; T4: Faidherbia albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; and T5: Faidherbia albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + 2.5 tons/ha FYM. The maize in T3-T5 was intercropped with Mucuna pruriens. The results indicate that the grain and residue yields in LR were not significantly different among all treatments. The total variable costs, which included monetarized labor and annualized capital costs for the establishment of F. albida were significantly higher under T1 than in T2-T5 during LR2018 and not significantly different from what was observed under T3-T5 in LR2019. The accumulated revenues and gross margins for the four seasons were not significantly different between T1 and the OMM strategies. We conclude that the integration of OMM strategies can give gross margins similar to the 50 kg/ha DAP application. Further, based on the price sensitivity analysis, we conclude that the smallholder farmers could adopt T3 and T4 as the gross margins under these treatments are less affected by grain price fluctuations than in T1, T2, and T5. Since the smallholder farmers can access the planting materials, we recommend the adoption of T3 and T4 on smallholder farms.

Soil greenhouse gas emissions and crop production with implementation of alley cropping in a Mediterranean citrus orchard

The implementation of alley cropping in orchards has been suggested as a sustainable strategy to increase farmer revenues by crop diversification, enhance soil organic matter (SOM) and fertility, water retention, overall biodiversity, and contribute to climate change mitigation. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess if alley cropping with annual crops can contribute to i) mitigate soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ii) enhance C sequestration in a semiarid Mediterranean irrigated citrus orchard, and iii) increase land productivity. For this, two different treatments were established: i) conventional mandarin monoculture (MC) with no alley cropping; and ii) mandarin diversified with alley cropping of barley/vetch and fava bean (DIV). Measurements of soil CO2 and N2O emissions were periodically performed (every 7–20 days) during two years. Soil CO2 emission rates followed the soil moisture trend, and showed no significant differences between treatments. As an average, soil CO2 emission rates were 147 mg m-2 h-1 in MC and 196 mg m-2 h-1 in DIV. Soil N2O emission rates were not correlated to soil moisture nor temperature, and showed average values of 0.026 mg m-2 h-1 in MC and − 0.002 mg m-2 h-1 in DIV. Alley cropping did not contribute to significantly increase soil organic C and total nitrogen in two years’ time. With regard to production, mandarin yield showed no significant differences between treatments, but alley crops contributed to complementary commodities to the main cash crop, increasing overall land productivity. Thus, alley cropping in irrigated Mediterranean orchards has no significant effect on soil C sequestration and GHG emissions at short-term, with increased land productivity owing to new commodities grown in the alleys. These results confirm that under semiarid Mediterranean climate, long periods are needed to efficiently assess soil C sequestration potential of sustainable practices in orchards.

Assessment of a Chain Mower Performance for Weed Control under Tree Rows in an Alley Cropping Farming System

In the area under tree rows of alley cropping systems, coarse plant material as well as pruning material or stones may be present, so the use of a mower equipped with chains as cutting a tool could be advantageous. A mower designed for under-row weed control in orchards, equipped with an automatic tree-skipping mechanism, was modified by replacing blades with chains with the aim of evaluating its performance in an alley cropping system. A first trial was carried out in an open field to preliminarily compare the chain mower with the version equipped with blades in relation to different settings of working speed (1.6 and 2.4 km·h−1) and rotation speed of the cutting tool (1830 and 2500 rpm). Weed biomass reduction, weed cover reduction, weed height reduction, weed biomass regrowth, and clipping size were assessed. In a second trial, the performance of the mowers with different setting configurations was assessed in an alley cropping system under a more critical environmental condition for mowing, i.e., the presence of dew. Weed biomass reduction, weed cover reduction, weed height reduction, and the mowers’ field capacity with different working speed settings were assessed. No major differences emerged between the mowers and the chain mower performance was comparable to that of the standard blade mower. The setting with the high working speed and high rotation speed of the cutting tool turns out to be the best compromise, obtaining a weed biomass reduction of 59.6%, a weed cover reduction of 40.9%, and a higher field capacity compared to the setting with the low working speed, with an increase of 47.9%.

Photosynthetic characteristics, soil nutrients, and their interspecific competitions in an apple–soybean alley cropping system subjected to different drip fertilizer regimes on the Loess Plateau, China

Imprecise irrigation hinders the sustainable development of the fruit tree–crop intercropping system in the Loess Gully Area of China. Drip fertigation was applied for two years as part of an apple–soybean intercropping system to optimize local water and nutrient management patterns. The effects of different drip irrigation and fertilizer levels on photosynthetic characteristics, soil nutrients, and their interspecific competitions were studied. The treatments were four irrigation levels, namely 60% (W1), 70% (W2), 80% (W3), and 90% (W4) of field capacity (Fc), and three nitrogen fertilization levels, namely 59 (F1), 92 (F2), and 124 kg∙ha–1 (F3). The control (CK) was a rain-fed (neither irrigation nor fertilizer) crop. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and soybean yield (GY) increased at first, but then decreased as irrigation and fertilizer application levels rose. The partial factor productivity (PFP) decreased as fertilization increased, but the soil available nitrogen content showed the opposite trend. The soil nutrients, and soybean Pn and Tr were positively correlated with distance from the apple tree row. The interspecific competition intensity for light and soil water decreased from 2018 to 2019, while root and soil nitrate nitrogen (NN) increased. The interspecific competition correlation between the aboveground and belowground parts was weak and varied between the two intercropping years. A principal component analysis showed that treatment W3F2 had the highest comprehensive score. Thus, a combination of irrigation at 80% Fc and 92 kg∙ha–1 nitrogen fertilizer application is optimal for the system. A multiple regression analysis indicated a water input range of 4624.49–4795.75 m3·ha−1·a−1 combined with 84.10–107.27 kg·ha−1·a−1 fertilizer application was suitable for optimal irrigation and fertilization management based on the integrated benefits to root length density, GY, Pn, and PFP during the first 4–5 years of the intercropping system.

Trees in silvopastoral systems reduce legume proportion with no consequence for internal N resorption efficiency

AbstractIn legume-based grasslands, legumes supply the sward with nitrogen (N) from biological N2-fixation. Previous studies in silvopastoral systems have emphasized that legume proportions decline near trees which would cause spatial variation in the N supply and the concentration of N in the harvested herbage of grass swards between trees. In natural ecosystems, it was shown that the N resorption efficiency (NRE) was increased by nutrient limitation, hence, near trees where legumes are scarce. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the NRE is increased near trees and compensates for the loss of legumes with respect to N concentration in live herbage. Two vegetation compositions consisting of legume-based grass swards were analysed across positions between tree lines in an alley cropping system established 5 years prior to this study. Legume proportion declined up to 45% towards the tree line, and also N concentration in live and dead herbage but on average only declined by 15%. As a consequence of a reduced N concentration and also herbage mass close to trees, the N yield decreased by up to 50%. Despite the loss of legumes near trees, the NRE was unaffected by the tree line irrespective of vegetation composition. Further, the results indicate that internal N cycling of managed grass swards in silvopastoral grassland with short defoliation intervals between harvests is of lesser relevance than in unmanaged ecosystems. Legume proportions control the N concentrations of live and dead herbage irrespective of tree shading in silvopastoral systems.

Classification and Socio-Economic Benefits of Agroforestry Systems in Soin Ward, Kericho County, Kenya

Agroforestry Systems (AFS) are integrated land use systems involving trees, agricultural crops, and animals simultaneously or sequentially, with the objective of sustainably increasing their total productivity per unit area. Despite strong literature evidence describing the benefits of agroforestry to livelihoods in other parts of the world, there is little information as such in Soin Ward of Kericho County, where sugarcane competes with tea as a major cash crop. This study aimed at classifying agroforestry systems and evaluating their socio-economic benefits in Soin Ward, Kericho County, Kenya. The study adopted a qualitative research design through the administration of pretested questionnaires on types of agroforestry systems, the scale of production, land utilisation, preference of trees and sugar cane varieties and their interactions with 384 respondents in lower, upper, and midland parts of Soin Ward. Four (4) classes of agroforestry systems were identified that comprised (48.2% agrosilvopastoral, 31.6% agrosilvicultural, and 20.2% silvopastoral); (16.2% protective and 83.8% productive); (45.7% subsistence and 54.3% commercial), and integrated farm-based agroforestry 47.4%, homestead (6.8%), animal farm (31.4%), dairy farm (1.4%), and forest land (13%) respectively. The majority of the respondents (42.7%) preferred Grevillea tree species for blending with sugarcane in a tree-sugarcane agroforestry system in comparison with cypress (29.4%), eucalyptus (15.1%), casuarina (12.6%), and calliandra (0.2%) respectively. Sixty (61.7%) plant trees along the boundary, 24% as woodlot, hedge raw (8.9%), intercropping/mixed (3.1%), and alley cropping (2.3%). Direct benefits from the identified agroforestry systems include; income (67.6%), food (8.3%), and employment (24.1%). Indirect benefits include provision of biofuel (21.9%), enhanced soil fertility (21.1%), bio drainage (20.4%), biodiversity conservation (19.4%), carbon absorption (17.2%), improvement of social amenities such as roads (27.2%), markets (25.8%), hospitals (19.3%), schools (18.5% and electricity (9.2%).Constraints faced by the agroforestry systems include; long waiting payback (39.2%), limited possibilities to sell products (28.3%), labour intensive (27.8%), and knowledge and technology gap (4.7%). Such results are useful for policy-making decisions towards afforestation and improved livelihoods in Kenya

Biomass contribution and nutrient recycling of organic matter management practices in tropical smallholder annual farming systems

ABSTRACT Integrating a combination of organic matter management (OMM) practices can increase soil fertility, biomass, and nutrient recycling, but evidence of this potential is limited. This study tested the impact of integrating a combination of OMM practices on soil fertility, biomass, and nutrient recycling on smallholder farms. Following a randomised complete block design, a four-season experiment was conducted in 2018-2019 on 10 farms. The treatments (T) included T1: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; T2: cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + farmyard manure; T3: Faidherbia albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation; T4: F. albida alleys + cowpea-maize-bean-maize rotation + farmyard manure; and T5 (control): maize monocrop with diammonium phosphate application at 50 kg/ha application rate. T1-T4 are the OMM practices. The maize in T2-T4 was undersown with Mucuna pruriens. Soil fertility parameters (i.e. pH, water holding capacity, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), biomass, and nutrients in the biomass were determined. There were no differences in soil fertility parameters among all treatments (P > 0.05). From the second to the fourth season, biomass was consistently higher under T3 and T4 than in other treatments. Moreover, the nutrients in biomass were higher in T3 and T4 than in other treatments, an indicator that OMM practices with alley crops can increase nutrient recycling.

Biomass and nutritional yields of maize–Sesbania sesban alley cropping, and non-structural carbohydrates in hedgerows

Biomass and nutritional yields of maize–Sesbania sesban alley cropping, and non-structural carbohydrates in hedgerows

Alley Cropping: Teknik Budidaya untuk Mengantisipasi Bencana Alam pada Lahan Pertanian Berlereng di Daerah Objek Wisata Buya Hamka Sungai Batang Maninjau

Maninjau Village, including the tourist destination of Buya Hamka in Sungai Batang, is susceptible to natural disasters, such as landslides. It happens due to the sloping and high rainfall (> 3000 mm per year) area. The soil is prone to landslides if the sloping land is intensively cultivated for crop growth. This community engagement activity socialised and practised alley cropping techniques to manage farming in the sloping area. This method for introducing the alley cropping technique was through presentation and discussion as well as practice in the field with a farming group “Sehati”, a member of KPGH (Hamka generation youth community), and community leaders of the Nagari Sungai Batang in November 2021. A farmer cultivating red onion adopted the alley cropping method for the farm having a 19o39’ (36%) slope level with an alley width was 5 m. Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia, known as green manure crops, were placed perpendicular to the slope of the alley fence. Gliricidia was planted every 5 m, and Tithonia between the Gliricidia at a 0.2 m distance in the alley fence.

Soil health in temperate agroforestry: influence of tree species and position in the field

ABSTRACT Alley cropping agroforestry – whereby tree rows are integrated in crop plots – is considered as a lever for the agroecological transition. Its benefit for enhancing soil functioning is rarely studied. We studied soil health in a 25 years temperate agroforestry plot cultivated with barley (Hordeum vulgare) according to two factors: i. the position to the tree row; and ii. the tree species. Soil health was assessed in three positions (in the tree row; in the crop alley next to the tree row and at 6.5 m from the tree row), for three contrasted tree species (Acer monspessulanum, Fraxinus sp., Pyrus communis) using two integrative methods based on soil biological activity (Biofunctool®, MicroRespTM). The position factor explained soil health differences the best: mean indexes were found 1.6 times higher in the tree row than in both positions in the crop alley, especially the structure maintenance function was impacted (indexes in the tree row = 0.21 to 0.26; indexes in the crop alley = 0.11 to 0.17). Tree species had less impact on soil health and impacted only carbon dynamics and microbial catabolic profiles. Our study invites to consider spatial organization and tree species to optimize soil ecosystem services in agroforestry systems.

Pemberdayaan Pembibitan Kayu Manis di Kelurahan Jaya Kota Tidore Kepulauan

Tidore Islands City is one of the cinnamon producers in North Maluku Province. Several Kelurahans in this area have cinnamon potential, one of which is Kelurahan Jaya. This area is a producer of cinnamon which is quite famous and is often traded. However, farmers are less interested in cultivating cinnamon, one of the reasons is that the price is far below the other two commodities, namely cloves and nutmeg. It's just that production at the farm level decreased because the sale of this commodity did not match the exchange rate received. In addition, the lack of public knowledge about cultivation will have an impact on its sustainability in the future as well as the lack of exploitation and product diversification. This Community Service activity aims to provide knowledge to farmer groups about cinnamon nurseries. This activity was carried out by the method of discussion and giving lectures which were carried out between the lecturer team and representatives of the CAWADA farmer group in Jaya Village. Community service activities were carried out in Jaya Village, Tidore Islands City on 16-17 July 2022. The writing method used a descriptive approach. The results of the farming business analysis show that the price of cinnamon bark is quite low when compared to clove and nutmeg commodities. The profit obtained by clove commodities can reach Rp. 9,500,000 – 38,500,000, -. / tree. Meanwhile, the price of dried nutmeg flower / mace is 9 times or Rp. 250.000,-/kg. Cinnamon plant nurseries can be done in Tidore Islands City because the condition of this area has an ideal topography and altitude for cinnamon plants. Several types of vegetable crops such as chayote, eggplant and chili as well as local fruits can be planted together through the Agroforestry system with fence and alley cropping patterns. The nursery stage is carried out through land selection, preparation of seeds to planting.

Modification of the microclimate and water balance through the integration of trees into temperate cropping systems

Climate change scenarios predict an increased occurrence of droughts and heatwaves, as well as extreme rainfall events in Central Europe. Alley cropping, which is the inclusion of rows of trees and shrubs in agricultural land, could enhance the resilience of cropping systems, as these systems are expected to positively modify the microclimate and water balance of croplands. This review analyses the effect of alley cropping on the microclimate and water balance, based on the available evidence from temperate alley cropping systems. Within alley cropping systems, the tree rows generate gradients in microclimatic variables, whereby strongest effects are observed in or close to the tree rows. Field-scale studies on light intensity (n=20), wind speed (n=4) and surface runoff (n=3) all reported a reduction compared to sole cropping systems. Effects on air temperature (n=10), relative humidity (n=5) and evapotranspiration (n=6) varied among studies, with the majority reporting a decrease in daytime temperatures (50% of studies), variable effects on relative humidity (60%) and an increase in evapotranspiration (50%) due to higher evapotranspiration by trees. Highest variation among studies was found for soil moisture, with 41% of studies reporting temporal and spatial differences within the system. This variation among studies likely depends on the purpose of the trees (short rotation coppice vs. fruit and/or timber trees) and design of the system. Also site context, such as topography, landscape diversity and climate, could play a role, but these factors are rarely taken into account. Only few studies investigated landscape-scale effects (n=3), such as groundwater recharge and moisture recycling. Future research should investigate the role of site context in the functioning of alley cropping systems and quantify landscape-scale effects. The process understanding gained from those studies will contribute to designing alley cropping systems that enhance the climate change resilience of current central European cropping systems.

Perennial alley cropping contributes to decrease soil CO2 and N2O emissions and increase soil carbon sequestration in a Mediterranean almond orchard

The implementation of alley cropping in orchards can be a sustainable strategy to increase farm productivity by crop diversification and contribute to climate change mitigation. In this research, we evaluated the short-term effect of alley cropping with reduced tillage on soil CO2 and N2O emissions and soil total organic carbon (TOC) in an almond orchard under Mediterranean rainfed conditions. We compared an almond monoculture with tillage in all plot surface (MC) with almond crop with reduced tillage and growth of Capparis spinosa (D1) and almond crop with reduced tillage and growth of Thymus hyemalis (D2). For two years, soil CO2 and N2O were measured, with soil sampling at the start and end of the experimental period. Results showed that CO2 emission rates followed the soil temperature pattern, while N2O emissions were not correlated with temperature nor moisture. Soil CO2 emissions were significantly higher in MC (87 mg m−2 h−1), with no significant differences between D1 and D2 (69 mg m−2 h−1). Some peaks in CO2 effluxes were observed after tillage operations during warm days. Soil N2O emission rates were not significantly different among treatments. Cumulative CO2 and CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions were significantly highest in MC. When CO2e emissions were expressed on a crop production basis, D2 showed the significantly lowest values (5080 g kg−1) compared to D1 (50,419 g kg−1) and MC (87,836 g kg−1), owing to the high thyme yield, additional to the almond yield. No production was obtained for C. spinosa, since at least two more years are required. TOC did not change with time in MC neither D1, but it significantly increased in D2 from 3.85 g kg−1 in 2019 to 4.62 g kg−1 in 2021. Thus, alley cropping can contribute to increase the agroecosystem productivity and reduce CO2 emissions. However, it is necessary to grow evergreen alley crops such as thyme to obtain short-term increases in soil organic matter. Thus, to estimate increases in TOC with alley cropping, the plantation density and the period required by the crop to cover most of the surface are essential factors at planning the cropping strategy.

Evaluation of Land Suitability for Agroforestry Development Based on Liberika Coffee in Kedabu Rapat Village, Meranti Islands Regency

Land evaluation is the process of comparing a series of data on land, vegetation and climate with specific use requirements. The goal to be achieved is to determine land use options as a bridge between physical, biological and technological components with economic goals to be achieved in a particular form of land use. Agroforestry is an integrated land use system, which has social and ecological aspects, implemented by combining trees with agricultural crops and / or livestock (animals), either jointly or in rotation. This study aims to identify land characteristics, evaluate the level of land suitability and how to develop a combination pattern of agroforestry plants based on Liberika Coffee that is right for the sake of improving the economy of the community in Kedabu Rapat Village. The method used is survey method and soil sampling by transect line at 1 kilometer intervals proportionally. The data analysis performed was scoring and matching between land characteristics and quality data with plant growth requirements using ArcGIS 10.2 software. The results showed that the annual average rainfall was 1,200-2,400 mm / year, temperatures were between 25 ° C - 32 ° C, flat topography with a classification of slope (<3%), soil types were Organosols and Gleihumus, flood hazard from none to moderate and the danger level of landslides and erosion is very light or not prone. The land suitability level for agroforestry based on Liberika Coffee with shade in the form of Coconut, Areca nut and Geronggang plants is very suitable (S1) covering an area of ​​± 848.64 ha (34.78%), the appropriate category (S2) covering an area of ​​± 584.54 ha (23, 96%), the category according to marginal (S3) is ± 521.78 ha (21.38%), and the unsuitable category (N) is ± 380.42 ha (15.59%) while the settlement area is ± 104.61 ha (4.29%). The combination pattern of agroforestry plants based on Liberika Coffee with shade plants of Coconut, Pinang and Geronggang in Kedabu Rapat Village is combination pattern 1 (border tree planting / trees along border) and combination pattern 2 (alley cropping) where Liberika Coffee plants are 2.5 x spacing. 2.5 m, Coconut spacing 10 x 10 m, Pinang spacing 2.5 x 2.5 m and Geronggang spacing 5 x 5 m.

Production of Feed Crops for Local Dairy Goats Using an Integrated Farming System

This investigation aimed to identify the production and composition of crops as feed, classify the types of integrated farming in different locations, and compare dairy goats based on their morphometric characteristics. The data used were collected from July to November, 2021 in the Malang, Lumajang, and Bangkalan regencies of Indonesia, via a survey and direct observations. Descriptive, multivariate, and variance analyses were adopted using RStudio to analyze the collected data. In Malang and Lumajang, farmers adopted agroforestry, alley cropping, and cover crops as the main types of integrated farming. The integrated farming adopted by the farmers in Malang, Bangkalan, and Lumajang helped to explain the differences in forage crops. Calliandra calothyrsus, Indigofera zollingeriana, and Thitonia diversifolia are non-grasses having high levels of average production. In Lumajang, farmers provided only a few combinations with Calliandra which was the most intensively grown crop. In Malang, six crops were combined for the dairy goat feed. Pennisetum purpureum was the crop most intensely grown to feed the PE (Etawa crossbred). In Bangkalan, Pote-Arosbaya goats were fed a combination of eight crops. Moringa oleifera, Bambusa sp., Artocarpus heterophyllus, and natural grasses were the most popular feed crops. In Malang and Lumajang, the PE Singosari and Senduro goats had a high degree of similarity based on their morphometric characteristics, respectively.