Sustainable Land Use Systems Research Articles

Rubber-Based Agroforestry Systems Associated with Food Crops: A Solution for Sustainable Rubber and Food Production?

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops.

Behavioural factors for farmers' adoption of agroforestry practices in Sweden

Agroforestry has recently been recognized as a sustainable land-use system that can both address farmers' productive needs and provide ecosystem services to society such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Further investigation into the role played by social and psychological factors for adoption of agroforestry within a European context, is needed. This paper provides an analysis of farmers' behavioural drivers with respect to their adoption of agroforestry practices, using a survey of 387 farmers from Sweden. We extended the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model to incorporate the following behavioural factors: businessperson identity, network memberships, conservation objectives, as well as perceived economic benefits and labour constraints on actual adoption. Latent constructs in the model were first extracted with factor analysis before estimating their impact on adoption using logit models. The results indicate that network memberships improve the explanation of adoption and positively impact farmers' adoption of agroforestry, while the remaining behavioural variables were found to be statistically insignificant. We therefore recommend to encourage farmers' connection to formal networks in order to disseminate ideas, technical experience and guidance on agroforestry, thereby facilitating adoption. The lack of a significant influence of the TPB-factors in our study suggests that we are not able to confirm that TPB variables have an effect on actual adoption and may support the common criticism given to the model in relation to the well-known intention-behaviour “gap”.

India's approach to agroforestry as an effective strategy in the context of climate change: An evaluation of 28 state climate change action plans

CONTEXTAgroforestry, a sustainable land-use system that integrates trees with crops and/or livestock, is recognized as an effective strategy for synergizing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in India. However, the prevalence of limited land under agroforestry indicates the presence of significant constraints hindering its widespread implementation. To address this challenge, the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) represents a potentially potent policy tool for driving the expansion of agroforestry at the sub-national level. OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to examine (i) how the SAPCCs recognized and reported the benefits of agroforestry for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and (ii) what policy approaches are put forth to operationalize agroforestry in India. METHODSFor this study, the information on agroforestry was coded using a hybrid approach (a combination of deductive and inductive coding) followed by thematic analysis and peer debriefing (for validation of the generated codes and themes). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSMany of the mitigation and adaptation benefits of agroforestry are reflected in the SAPCCs. However, the predominant focus of these SAPCCs has been on tree-based agroforestry, with insufficient attention given to the crop-tree-livestock nexus, which could offer greater scope for reducing agricultural emissions. Furthermore, existing constraints to the expansion of agroforestry have not been adequately addressed, and the strategies proposed lack the necessary precision to enable effective implementation on the ground. These shortcomings are further compounded by the absence of accurate budgetary estimates, thereby hindering the ability to execute meaningful actions at the grassroots level. SIGNIFICANCEThe results of this study could offer valuable perspectives on how the potential benefits of agroforestry may be harnessed more prudently to realize mitigation and adaptation outcomes in India while aligning with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions and building sustainable livelihood.

Understanding land-use sustainability with a systematical framework: An evaluation case of China

Appraisals of land-use sustainability (LUS) are indispensable for the attainment of sustainable land-use planning and management. At present, China is experiencing a pivotal phase of comprehensive reform in land-use policy, engendering a practical necessity for system-oriented land evaluations. Despite this, studies focused on national-scale systematic LUS evaluation remain scarce. Within this context, we developed a hierarchical structural framework for land-use systems based on the assumption that sustainable land-use systems adapted to development needs have mutually adaptable internal subsystems and fewer conflicting system elements. Employing this framework, we assessed the LUS across Chinese counties from 2000 to 2015 by using a newly introduced static equilibrium equation；we also analyzed the natural and socioeconomic influences and driving effect of land-use change to LUS. Findings reveal a significant spatial clustering and urban-rural differentiation within the LUS spatial pattern. Five LUS hot and cold spots and eight metropolitan areas with poor LUS were identified. Furthermore, conflicting land capability elements and the non-adaptability of land function subsystems with capability subsystems are the primary constraints on LUS; gross domestic product (GDP), population growth, and the GDP growth per unit land area had the most significant impacts on LUS; The transformation of construction and cropland into ecological land and the re-purposing of grassland into building land are primary drivers of LUS. Our findings highlight the prospective utility of the proposed LUS framework in integrated natural resource management and territorial spatial planning. Meanwhile, Insights from this evaluation case could be harnessed to optimize land-use in critical regions (including northern arid and semiarid regions, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region, the poverty belt around the capital, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta metropolitan areas, as well as Fuzhou and Xiamen metropolitan areas), thereby enhancing land management decision-making processes.

Citrus Specialization or Crop Diversification: The Role of Smallholder’s Subjective Risk Aversion and Case Evidence from Guangxi, China

Specialization may lead to higher income for small-scale farmers but comes with increased risks, while diversification can mitigate risks and foster agricultural sustainability. Considering the influences of complex risks and farmers’ subjective risk aversion, the decision for small-scale farmers to specialize in citrus cultivation or diversify with multiple crops remains uncertain. There is currently limited understanding of this issue among citrus smallholders in rural China. This study aims to fill this empirical gap by examining the impact of smallholder farmers’ subjective risk aversion on their choice between citrus monoculture and crop diversification. It utilizes a subjective risk assessment approach that incorporates farmers’ risk perceptions and risk attitudes towards citrus farming. Farm crop diversification is assessed through the utilization of both the count index and Shannon index. The empirical analysis employs survey data obtained from citrus growers in Guangxi, China, and applies an instrumental variable regression method with endogeneity consideration using the IV-Probit model and 2SLS model estimation. The results reveal that both risk perceptions and risk attitudes play important roles in citrus smallholders’ land allocation decisions. Specifically, citrus farmers who perceive higher risks and adopt risk-averse attitudes are statistically more inclined to engage in land use diversification practices, including the practice of growing citrus as well as other crops, which contributes to reducing the risks of citrus farming and promoting local environmental conservation. These results contribute to a better scholarly comprehension of the relationship between risk perceptions, risk attitudes, and crop diversification among small-scale citrus farmers. They provide valuable insights for enhancing the sustainability of land use systems with citrus farming while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining essential diversification in small-scale farming throughout the process of agricultural modernization.

Integrating climate mitigation and environmental peacebuilding objectives through sustainable land use systems: Theory of change and indicators

Land is an essential natural resource for climate mitigation and peace. It is commonly connected with sources of GHG emissions and with drivers of (violent) conflict. Therefore, climate mitigation and peacebuilding strategies are co-designing sustainable land-use systems (SLUS) with affected communities to integrate land-based climate mitigation and peacebuilding objectives. SLUS is practiced within agricultural production systems that meet sustainability principles (environmental, social, and economic). Nevertheless, there needs to be more program evaluation frameworks, especially measurable indicators, that integrate these two objectives (achieving peace and climate mitigation). This study aims to develop a methodology and criteria to evaluate the precise mechanisms of SLUS influencing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and drivers of conflict. A mix-method approach was used in two case study regions, Cesar and Caquetá, Colombia, where SLUS strategies where implemented. First, we conducted three workshops, two in-person and one virtual (n = 103). Secondly, we held semi-structured interviews (n = 115) to make an analysis of the conflict. Our research focused on the drivers of land-based emissions and conflict drivers targeted by the SLUS implementation. Lastly, through a household survey (n = 929), we illustrated the impacts of SLUS in peacebuilding at the farm level. Results show that SLUS, such as cocoa agroforestry, can contribute to climate change mitigation and deliver co-benefits in four core factors: (i) socio-economic inclusion by creating jobs and diversifying livelihoods, (ii) dialogue and conflict transformation by allowing negotiations around the participatory design of farms, including conservation agreements, (iii) natural resource governance, and (iv) cooperation by creating knowledge exchange and a community of practice.

Secondary succession in swamp gallery forests along 65 fallow years after shifting cultivation

Understanding the resilience of ecosystems to different land uses is critical to elucidate the mechanisms underlying regeneration processes and plan more sustainable land-use systems. While these relationships are well understood in continuous tropical forests, they are still poorly comprehended in forest formations embedded in a savanna matrix, even though these forest systems are critical for conserving savanna biodiversity and water resources. We assessed the time and capacity of swamp gallery forests to recover after shifting cultivation, in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), investigating the role of environmental factors in community recovery. This shifting cultivation system uses slash and burn techniques and establishes drained fields of 0.3–1.2 ha which are cultivated for 10 years, then left fallow for 10–65 years. To assess the resilience of these communities, we analyzed a chronological sequence of 28 secondary forests (1–65 years) and compared them with four old forests (reference ecosystems). We evaluated the trajectory and recovery time of community diversity, composition, and structure (height, canopy coverage, density, basal area, and biomass) as a function of fallow time, water table depth, and soil characteristics using multiple linear models. Forest fragments were considered recovered when their attributes reached the mean values of the reference forests. Most attributes are projected to reach the mean reference values of old-growth forests within nine decades, except for the proportion of non-pioneer species, canopy cover, and biomass. Water table depth influenced the trajectory and time required for recovery species richness and floristic composition. Soils with higher pH and higher nutrient availability positively influenced the recovery of non-pioneer species composition, while soils with lower pH and high organic carbon availability favored an increase in canopy height throughout succession. The disturbances generated by this shifting cultivation system do not prevent the recovery of at least 80 percent of the assessed community attributes in 65 years, suggesting that the resilience of secondary forests was not lost. Considering disturbance at similar scales, we recommend that these ecosystems be left fallow for at least 90 years to complete the recovery of ecological attributes.

Long-term pathways analysis to assess the feasibility of sustainable land-use and food systems in Mexico

Mexico aims to develop highly productive and sustainable food systems that ensure national self-sufficiency. This paper employs an integrated land-use modeling tool—the FABLE Calculator—to estimate the degree of policy ambition required for the country to meet mid-century climate, conservation and production goals in the land-use sector. We generate national-level land-use pathways to mid-century in terms of agricultural production, land use change dynamics, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and availability of land supporting biodiversity under varying assumptions of national policy and productivity changes. We estimate the effects of plausible efforts to achieve sustainability in land-use and food systems to 2050 against a business-as-usual benchmark. In the sustainable pathway, assumptions on agricultural land expansion, reforestation, and protected area expansion reflect existing and aspirational Mexican government policies aiming to improve crop yields, livestock productivity with silvopastoral systems, and GHG mitigation goals. We also model diets that evolve toward Mexican dietary guidelines for a healthier consumption of fats and oils as well as a substantial increase in the intake of fruits and vegetables, pulses, nuts, and fish. Results suggest that Mexico can feasibly adopt a sustainable land-use pathway that provides adequate nutrition for the population by 2050, limit agricultural expansion, reduce GHG emissions, and expand forested lands. This type of integrated land-use modeling can help ensure policy coherence in land and food systems across national strategic plans for climate, biodiversity, and agricultural self-sufficiency, each spearheaded by different government agencies. Importantly, a sensitivity analysis highlights the transformative impact that diets have on land-use systems, and as such, dietary transformation should be considered in all climate mitigation plans.

Carbon stocks differ among land-uses in agroforestry systems in western Canada

Agroforestry systems (AFS) are increasingly being recognized as sustainable land-use systems that can increase carbon (C) sequestration and improve food security. However, the relative contributions of various C pools to the overall C stock of AFS and their dependence on factors such as tree age, species diversity and density is still unclear in many regions. Using an equivalent soil mass approach, we investigated the effect of three different AFS (hedgerow, shelterbelt, and silvopasture) and their component land-use types (treed areas and adjacent cropland/grassland) on various C pools across 36 sites in central Alberta, Canada. On average, the treed area within AFS stored 178.5 t ha−1 more C relative to adjacent cropland or grassland, although the total C stock did not differ among the three AFS types. Most of the C in the treed area of AFS was stored in the mineral soil (61%), overstory trees (28%), and the LFH (litter, partially decomposed litter and humus, 10%) layer, while midstory trees, shrubs, and understory vegetation together accounted for the remaining 1% of the C storage. The C stock size in the treed area was closely associated with tree stand characteristics of the three AFS, with the C pool size in the LFH positively related to tree age. Our results highlight that the amount of C stored in the LFH layer is substantial and should be considered when assessing C storage within AFS and suggest that investing in AFS can be an effective strategy for meeting part of Canada's C reduction goals to mitigate climate change.

Analysis of Arable Farmers Agroforestry Practices in Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

The need to increase arable crop production to keep pace with food demands for a growing population without degrading ecosystems can only be achieved through adoption of agroforestry. Agroforestry practices help to achieve food security, biodiversity, conservation and land sustainability. The 94 famers were chosen using a multistage sampling process. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Most (74%) of respondents practiced home gardening. The significant benefits derived from agroforestry were; food/fruits (97%) and soil improvement/conservation (88%). The mean adoption index was 0.27. The log-likelihood obtained from Tobit was 67.92 indicating that the independent variables significantly explained the variation in the farmer’s adoption decision. Educational level (β=0.426) and farm experience (β=0.597) were both positive and statistically significant at ρ˂0.05; farm income (β=0.568) was significant at ρ˂0.01, and extension contact (β=-0.887, ρ˂0.01) was negative and had a negative impact on agroforestry adoption. The constraints affecting the practice of agroforestry among arable farmers were; poor policies, inadequate extension services, insufficient improved tree species among others. The study recommends intensification of extension services and provision of incentives to farmers to promote agroforestry adoption to achieve increased food production and sustainable land-use systems.

Governance in post-conflict scenarios: assessing models of community-based governance in the departments of Caquetá and Cesar (Colombia)

ABSTRACT Local and environmental governance is crucial for contending with the complex problems of land-use systems and socio-ecological conflicts that bedevil progress toward sustainable development. The community-based governance (CBG) framework is a practical instrument designed to identify collective problems, source the appropriate institutions and articulate joint solutions. It uses community perspectives to construct local and environmental governance models. Through a literature review, two expert workshops and 37 applied questionnaires, a bottom-up CBG model that could enhance environmental and local governance in a post-conflict era for two Colombian administrative departments is developed. Strengthening law enforcement, supporting sustainable land-use systems and promoting education are integral to a participatory-led approach to socio-ecological conflict prevention and resolution. The results are instructive for other communities and regions facing persistent conflict.

Terraced Landscapes Regeneration in the Perspective of the Circular Economy

Terraced landscapes were for centuries forms of sustainable and multifunctional land management, results of a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their environment. They demonstrated a rich cultural diversity and agrobiodiversity through sustainable land-use systems. These productive cultural landscapes in many cases were expressions of a pre-industrial circular model of rural development, where no resource was wasted. However, not all terraced landscapes have to be considered sustainable in themselves: in recent times, the terraces have undergone changes that have threatened their sustainability with abandonment and degradation as well as exclusively productive exploitation. This paper explores whether and how terraced landscape can recover an active role in modern society, analyzing emerging terraces recovery practices from the perspective of the circular economy. Innovative circular and productive uses of abandoned terraced landscapes aim at reducing the waste of natural and cultural resources, enlarging the lifetime (use value) of landscapes and preserving cultural and natural values for present and future generations. Results show that new functional uses of terraced landscapes are able to enhance in different ways their role as “middle landscapes” or places of mediation among economic, ecologic, ethical and aesthetic needs through circular adaptive reuse practices, becoming key drivers of new “circular” economies and a new pact between rural and urban regions.

Assessing impacts of environmental peacebuilding in Caquetá, Colombia: a multistakeholder perspective

Abstract A major challenge in the field of environmental peacebuilding is showing the impact of its initiatives. Questions emerge, such as what kind of postwar peacebuilding dimensions are more likely to be affected by natural resource management projects? Although quantitative studies assess the relation between natural resource management programmes and conflict, the question remains: what are the mechanisms involved in implementing projects designed for environmental peacebuilding? To answer these questions, a mixed methods research approach is chosen, combining four qualitative and quantitative methods to triangulate results. First, we identify a set of peacebuilding dimensions and mechanisms based in the literature that facilitate assessing the impact of sustainable land-use systems (SLUS) design in the post-peace agreement region of Caquetá, Colombia. Second, not only do we interview experts and practitioners at global, national (Colombia) and local (Department of Caquetá) levels in the fields of peacebuilding, natural resource management and environmental peacebuilding, we also conduct three workshops and a survey in Caquetá to prioritize dimensions and discover explanatory mechanisms. The case of Caquetá, Colombia, shows that peacebuilding dimensions, such as socio-economic inclusion (e.g. sustainable livelihoods), creation of governance scenarios, and building capacities for dialogue and a peace culture, should be addressed to take account of the impacts of SLUS projects in post-conflict peacebuilding.

A rapid approach for informing the prioritization of degraded agricultural lands for ecological recovery: A case study for Colombia

Turning national restoration commitments into action involves systematic spatial planning and prioritization of areas for investment. To achieve restoration at the landscape level, efforts must focus on ecological recovery, where productivity and ecosystem services are recovered on degraded agricultural lands, to meet not only environmental objectives but socioeconomic objectives as well, which can be accomplished through the establishment of sustainable land-use systems (SLUS). As financial resources for restoration are limited, identifying areas where resources can be used efficiently to achieve particular restoration objectives is critical. This study presents a rapid approach to identifying and prioritizing degraded agricultural lands for low-cost ecological recovery. Using publicly available remote sensing datasets at the national level, we apply the proposed methodology to Colombia, where we identify opportunities for cost-effective interventions on productive lands with moderate to light degradation, based on biophysical indicators of soil degradation. In tandem, we identify areas experiencing underutilization, where SLUS can be used to sustainably intensify production, and overutilization, where SLUS can be used to mitigate soil degradation. We identify and map over 10.3 million ha of land with potential for ecological recovery. We find that the Caribbean region proportionally has a high prevalence of moderately degraded agricultural and agroforestry soils, while the Andean region has a high proportion of moderately degraded production forestry soils. Our results aid in the identification and prioritization of areas where multifunctional SLUS, such as agroforestry, agroecology or climate-smart agriculture, can be developed to restore productivity and ecosystem services to degraded agricultural lands.

Physico-chemical analysis of soils for the better yield of sugarcane and rice using Heber soil quality index

Soil quality plays an important role in the assessment of sustainable land-use systems. Assessment of soil quality will always help farmers to apply correct fertilisers in correct proportions to th...

Assessment of crop yield, productivity and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems in Central Himalaya, India

The present study deals with the assessment of crop composition, yield, biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), carbon stock and carbon sequestration in agri-silviculture (AS) and agri-horticulture (AH) agroforestry systems of Central Himalaya. An extensive field survey was carried out for the selection of AS (poplar + wheat) and AH (mango + wheat) systems practiced by the farmers in the region. In each agroforestry system, the wheat and tree species were assessed. Tree density was 400 and 278 individuals ha−1 in AS and AH systems while wheat density was 95 and 61 individuals m−2 in AS and AH systems, respectively. The yield and harvest index of wheat were 5096 kg ha−1 and 46% in AS system while 4009 kg ha−1 and 44.6% in AH system, respectively. In comparison with sole cropping system, the reduction in wheat yield was 19.7% in AS system and 36.8% in AH system. The biomass and net primary productivity of trees were 128.3 t ha−1 and 16.2 4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AS system while 171.95 t ha−1 and 14.4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AH system. However, the carbon sequestration of tree was 7.7 and 6.8 t C ha−1 yr−1 in AS and AH systems. The available nitrogen and phosphorus showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with crop yield. The yield of wheat, NPP, carbon sequestration and nutrients of soil was higher in AS (poplar + wheat) system than in AH (mango + wheat) system. Therefore, we suggested the farmers to adopt the AS system for better outputs in terms of production, carbon sequestration and sustainability of land use system.

Mediterranean land use systems from prehistory to antiquity: a case study from Peloponnese (Greece)

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the sustainability of land use systems over time requires an accounting of the diversity of land uses and their varying influences on the environment. Here we present a standardized review of land use systems in the Peloponnese, Greece, from the Neolithic to the Roman period (~6500 BC–AD 300). Using a combination of sources, we synthesize the fundamental information required to characterize and quantify the spatial requirements of land use. We contextualize our results in a discussion of temporal trends, the probable drivers of change, and how these changes can be integrated with the general knowledge of these societies and the overall effect of land use across time. While our review concentrates on the Peloponnese, our methodology is widely applicable where suitable archaeological and historical records are available, and is broadly representative of the prehistoric and early historical evolution of agricultural land use systems in the eastern Mediterranean.

What is good about Sri Lankan homegardens with regards to food security? A synthesis of the current scientific knowledge of a multifunctional land-use system

Recently, there has been growing interest in agroforestry systems due to their great potential to mitigate threats to household food and nutrition security from soaring food prices but also as carbon sinks. In Sri Lanka, smallholder farms such as homegardens constitute a majority of Sri Lanka’s total annual crop and timber production. Despite Sri Lankan homegardens being considered desirable and sustainable land-use systems, their role in food and nutrition security is not yet entirely understood. By synthesising scientific articles and grey literature we sought the link between food security and homegardens by quantifying their products or services and ascertaining whether food security characteristics are assessed as direct or indirect impacts. The results show that 27% of 92 identified articles directly quantified aspects that are relevant to food security. Another 51% of the articles quantified indirect aspects that have relevance for food security, including climate, soil, ecosystem services, structural and floristic diversity and economic aspects. Twenty-two percent of the articles were categorised as being qualitative or conceptual and contained no direct assessments or quantification of food security. The presence of significant merits from homegardens includes providing food security throughout the year at low-cost while sustaining numerous ecosystem services. This benefits particularly the poor farmers. However, many studies are descriptive and only provide location-specific information on single research focuses such as plant species, yield and management. There are few comparisons with crop land, forests or other production systems, and there is even less empirical evidence and quantification of the food security and other benefits. Seven areas where more scientific focus would be beneficial are identified. Homegardens are strong in national policies and to reach a greater level of efficiency within these activities our findings suggest more emphasis on a higher degree of inclusiveness of relevant stakeholders and long-term engagements with context specific guidance.

Sustentabilidade dos sistemas de uso da terra praticados no assentamento agroextrativista do Anauerapucu-AP

Este artigo é o resultado de uma pesquisa que teve como objetivo analisar a sustentabilidade dos sistemas de uso da terra no Assentamento Agroextrativista do Anauerapucu-AP. A pesquisa requereu a construção de índices de sustentabilidade para a comparação entre os sistemas praticados na terra firme e várzeas. Houve análise nas dimensões sociais, econômicas, ambientais, políticas e culturais através do uso de indicadores elaborados a partir de variáveis pré-definidas. Estes indicadores foram classificados em três níveis: baixa, média e alta sustentabilidade. O uso da terra neste assentamento rural é caracterizado por pequenas roças, pela produção de maracujá, pelo cultivo da mandioca e macaxeira, pela extração de açaí, por piscicultura e pecuária e pelo cultivo de algumas frutas, utilizando várzeas e terra firme. Os resultados mostraram que os sistemas de várzea apresentaram melhores índices de sustentabilidade em relação aos praticados na terra firme.Código JEL | O18; Q24; R14.

Agroforestry research and extension education at 1890 universities and its impact in the Southeast

Agroforestry is a sustainable land-use system that involves an intentional integration and management of trees, crops, and/or livestock in a single management unit. Well managed agroforestry systems offer more economical, environmental, and social benefits compared to monocultures of its components. Continuous research, education, and extension efforts are necessary to promote agroforestry practices. Agroforestry research, education, and extension activities ongoing at the 1890 universities located in the South and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, Epes, Alabama are presented in this article. Additionally, some of the funding support received by these institutions to conduct agroforestry activities, and the involvement of professionals, farmers, landowners, and students in these activities are discussed.