Potentials and limitations of agroforestry for changing land-use in the tropics: experiences from Central America

Muschler, Reinhold; Bonnemann, A.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(96)03887-x

Cited by 44 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, as a result of increasing market pressures and land-use intensification, many shade-grown agroforestry systems are being converted to less diverse and more structurally homogeneous sun-grown plantations 95,96 or, in some cases, to annual or short duration crops such as sugarcane 97,98 or oil palm 99 . These transitions from diverse perennial to simplified monocultural systems are often accompanied by negative consequences for hydrologic services 100 .…”

Section: Hydrologic Regulation and Water Purificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

Asbjornsen

Hernández‐Santana

Liebman

et al. 2013

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

250

168

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Over the past century, agricultural landscapes worldwide have increasingly been managed for the primary purpose of producing food, while other diverse ecosystem services potentially available from these landscapes have often been undervalued and diminished. The incorporation of relatively small amounts of perennial vegetation in strategic locations within agricultural landscapes dominated by annual crops-or perennialization-creates an opportunity for enhancing the provision of a wide range of goods and services to society, such as water purification, hydrologic regulation, pollination services, control of pest and pathogen populations, diverse food and fuel products, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme disturbances, while at the same time improving the sustainability of food production. This paper synthesizes the current scientific theory and evidence for the role of perennial plants in balancing conservation with agricultural production, focusing on the Midwestern USA as a model system, while also drawing comparisons with other climatically diverse regions of the world. Particular emphasis is given to identifying promising opportunities for advancement and critical gaps in our knowledge related to purposefully integrating perennial vegetation into agroecosystems as a management tool for maximizing multiple benefits to society. AbstractOver the past century, agricultural landscapes worldwide have increasingly been managed for the primary purpose of producing food, while other diverse ecosystem services potentially available from these landscapes have often been undervalued and diminished. The incorporation of relatively small amounts of perennial vegetation in strategic locations within agricultural landscapes dominated by annual crops-or perennialization-creates an opportunity for enhancing the provision of a wide range of goods and services to society, such as water purification, hydrologic regulation, pollination services, control of pest and pathogen populations, diverse food and fuel products, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme disturbances, while at the same time improving the sustainability of food production. This paper synthesizes the current scientific theory and evidence for the role of perennial plants in balancing conservation with agricultural production, focusing on the Midwestern USA as a model system, while also drawing comparisons with other climatically diverse regions of the world. Particular emphasis is given to identifying promising opportunities for advancement and critical gaps in our knowledge related to purposefully integrating perennial vegetation into agroecosystems as a management tool for maximizing multiple benefits to society.

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Section: Hydrologic Regulation and Water Purificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

Asbjornsen

Hernández‐Santana

Liebman

et al. 2013

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

250

168

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…As forests diminish throughout the world, it is said that conservation of forests should be managed with the participation of local communities and technology mixed with scientific knowledge (Muschler and Bonnemann, 1997). With this in mind, surveys have been conducted to identify useful tree species that suited the location most and have economic value based on use by local communities in Panama.…”

Section: Another Feature Pertaining To Agroforestry In Centralmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flexibility of coffee agroforestry with diversified shade tree composition: A case study in Panama

Fujisawa

Tanaka

Inoue

2012

Tropics

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Agroforestry has drawn attention as a promising way to tackle deforestation, particularly in tropical regions.Shade coffee agroforestry in Central America is one such example that has been spotlighted as an ecological and socioeconomic boon for farmers. In this study we focus on the distribution of shade trees and the dynamics of coffee plantations, and explain how is incorporated into people's changing livelihoods. Interviews with households and visits to coffee fields revealed 119 different shade tree species in various combinations on 159 coffee fields held by 66 households. The diversification of tree species was a reflection of various demands for shade trees according to the preferences of individual householders based on their lifestyle, culture, and knowledge. Diversity and variability in land use was also observed. Especially plantations had flexible dynamics incorporating slash-and-burn farming. These diversities should help people in responding flexibly to changes in external political or economic factors. Maintaining a wide range of options through diversity or other means is an excellent way to ensure a robust and flexible response to external pressures.

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“…Erythrina abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, and Markhamia lutea were mentioned as the top most three soil fertility improving species on livestock farms in Kyeizooba subcounty in Bushenyi district. Scientific evidence elsewhere has shown that Croton macrostachyus, Erythrina abbysinica, and Markhamia lutea being grown as soil fertility improving trees and able to enhance soil fertility [30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. However, there is no single study which has tested the performance of these particular trees on soil quality.…”

Section: Tree Species On Livestock Farms and Their Usesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of Farmer Perceived Soil Fertility Improving Tree Species in Agropastoral Communities of Bushenyi District

Muzoora

Turyahabwe

Majaliwa³

2011

International Journal of Agronomy

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In sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, there is declining soil fertility and limited on-farm use of inorganic fertilizers due to poverty and limited subsidies for inorganic fertilizer use. Thus, integration of soil fertility improving tree species (SFITs) in farming systems remains a plausible option to sustaining soil productivity. However, knowledge of the effects of many of the locally growing farmer perceived soil fertility enhancing tree species on to soil chemical and nutrient contents are thus still lacking, and this has constrained decisions on their adoption and scaling up. The objectives of this paper were to identify farmers' preferred soil fertility improving tree species in agropastoral communities of Kyeizooba subcounty Bushenyi district, and characterize their litter content and assess their effect on selected soil chemical properties. Semistructured questionnaires were administered to 333 randomly selected agropastoral farmers. Litter and soils under canopy soils were sampled from three different environments: Under canopy radius (A), canopy edge (B), open pasture land up to thrice the canopy radius (C). Results revealed Eucalyptus as the most common tree species on livestock farms, followed by Erythrina abyssinica. The highest litter content was recorded for Markhamia lutea (240 g/cm 2 under its canopy) followed by Croton macrostachyus (90 g/cm 2 ), and 19 g/cm 2 Erythrina abyssinica. Nitrogen was higher (P = .02) in Erythrina abyssinica litter, K and carbon in Croton macrostachyus litter (P = .03). These results give evidence that of soil improvers Erythrina abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, and Markhamia lutea may positively affect soil fertility. Farmers' indigenous knowledge and or valuation of important tree species can be relied on, and thus, their indigenous knowledge need to be incorporated during identification of tree species for promotion in farming systems.

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Potentials and limitations of agroforestry for changing land-use in the tropics: experiences from Central America

Cited by 44 publications

References 21 publications

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

Flexibility of coffee agroforestry with diversified shade tree composition: A case study in Panama

Validation of Farmer Perceived Soil Fertility Improving Tree Species in Agropastoral Communities of Bushenyi District

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