Description of practice

Agroforestry is the practice of integrating the use of woody perennials with agricultural crops and/or animals for a variety of benefits and services including: better use of soil and water resources; multiple fuel, fodder and food products; a diversity of habitats for wildlife species.

Examples of how to use agroforestry Further information
(see Note below)

AMP39 01

Orchard-based agroforestry

Legumes and cereals are planted in fruit orchards that are orientated according to the prevailing wind direction. The system provides protection against strong winds, rain and flooding, enhances soil quality and produces a variety of crops.

 

»WOCAT technology 1017

AMP39 02

Silvo-arable agroforestry system

Tree belts 14 m wide are planted in fields that are 40 m wide to enable mechanized cultivation of annual crops. Environmental and economic benefits include higher biodiversity, income and labour diversification, lower energy inputs and reinforcement of natural pest control.

 

»WOCAT technology 1230

AMP39 03

Agrisilvicultural agroforestry system

Agricultural (intercropping, manure/ compost/mulching), vegetative (Napier grass strips, trees planting) and structural (ditches) measures are combined to maximize overall land yield in a sustainable manner.

 

»WOCAT technology 1146

AMP39 04

Intensive irrigated fruit tree-vegetables agroforestry intercropping system

A rotation of vegetables are intercropped between mango trees to create permanent soil cover impeding weed growth while reducing evaporation and soil erosion.

 

»WOCAT technology 2236

AMP39 05

Coffee agroforestry shade system

Coffee is grown under shade trees on mixed farms to reduce yield fluctuations and create more diverse, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.

 

»WOCAT technology 1212

AMP39 06

Dynamic agroforestry system

Different canopy strata are used for different crops in a highly diversified agroforestry system mimicking the phases of natural succession. Pruning and selective weeding enhance the dynamic development of plant synergies.

 

»WOCAT technology 513

AMP39 07

Assisted natural regeneration

Tree seedlings growing naturally on crop-, forest- or rangeland are selected, protected and preserved. The recommended density on cropland is 60-80 trees per hectare.

 

»WOCAT technology 1626


Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.

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