Agroforestry as alternative land‐use production systems for the tropics

Abstract

The science of agroforestry has progressed significantly during the past three decades. This article describes and documents various prominent traditional agroforestry systems. In‐depth research on interactive processes of some agrisilvicultural systems have been undertaken and quantified. It has been found that the presence of woody species can enhance nutrient cycling, and can improve soil productivity, soil conservation and soil biotic andfaunal activities. In simultaneous systems however, their presence can also cause competition with the associated food crops. Most agroforestry systems constitute ecologically and bio‐physically sustainable land use systems. Some are highly sustainable and economically viable, in particular the highly complex and specialized types, such as the damar and rubber agroforests in Indonesia. Agroforestry systems have potential uses in stabilization of sloping lands and buffer zones around forest reserves, for recovering degraded lands, and for improving the productivity of the bush fallow system. Despite rapid progress in biophysical research, field application of the science of agroforestry is still minimal. This article examines the possibilities of exploring the multiple contributions of trees to food security, rural income generation, diversity of products and ecosystem conservation within sustainable agroforestry contexts. Research efforts in the new millennium need to focus more on practical research and also on socio‐economic and policy factors that can enhance beneficial application of the science in the near future to smallholder farmers in the tropics.

The Contribution of Forests and Trees to Sustainable Diets

“…A large body of scientific knowledge is being generated on the ecosystem services and environmental benefits provided by agroforestry systems, particularly carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, soil enrichment, air and water quality [90,91]. They supply also commodities as part of a multifunctional working landscape and contribute directly and indirectly to food security.…”

Fertiliser Trees for Sustainable Food Security in the Maize-Based Production Systems of East and Southern Africa

“…The potential of faidherbia (Faidherbia albida) for improvement of soil fertility and crop yields has been demonstrated in many parts of Africa (Saka et al, 1994;Kang and Akinnifesi, 2000). This species has a unique phenology in that it sheds its leaves during the wet season and resumes leaf growth during the dry season.…”

“…This makes it possible to grow crops under its canopy with minimum shading on the companion crop. About 20 to 30 mature trees are needed to completely cover one hectare of land and maintain optimum crop response (Kang and Akinnifesi, 2000). Several studies in Africa showed yield benefits when crops were grown under the canopy of Faidherbia.…”

Do gender and age influence agroforestry farmers' knowledge of tree species uses in an area of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil?

“…In addition, the way these populations use, manage and technologically process many of the plants may have been infl uenced by indigenous knowledge (Oliveira Jr & Cabreira 2012). In this regard, rural communities hold broad knowledge of rain forest uses and can develop well-managed, complex and successful agroforests (Kang & Akinnifesi 2000).…”

“…Th ese societies depend on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of natural resources to survive (Kang & Akinnifesi 2000). Studies that address rural populations are important because they can contribute to the protection and management of plant resources (Albuquerque 1997).…”