Beschreibung: Agroforestry homestead garden plays a significant role in improving food and nutritional security for the smallholders in developing countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries. A study was conducted in two agro-ecological situations of Tripura, with the aid of farm inputs, improved technological support and direct observation during the year 2011–2014. Upscaling of homestead gardens with a number of components such as vegetables, spices, tubers, fruits, mushroom, poultry and goatery products ensured a year-round supply of a wide spectrum of food materials. Besides ensuring household food and nutritional security, this large variety of homestead garden products also contributed to income security when sold in nearby market. It also helps in improving water and organic fertilizer use through the recycling of rainwater and farm wastes from the enterprises involved. Besides facilitating cash income, homestead farming system generated employment for family labour and minimizes the risk associated with conventional cropping system.

Beschreibung: The aim of this study was to relate tree planting spatial arrangements of five eucalypt clones in silvopastoral systems to brachiaria production. Tree layouts were (2 × 2) + 10 m and (3 × 3) + 9 m (double-rows) and 9 × 3 m (single-row) planting arrangements. Tree leaf area index (LAI) was measured acrosss the interrow at 38, 50, and 62 months after planting. Tree crown radius was measured at 45° intervals around the stem at 38 months. Brachiaria was sampled across the interrow at 50 months. The LAI decreased with tree density for most clones and ages. The clones GG100, 58, and 62 presented the lowest LAI, independently of age and planting arrangements. LAI decreased from the tree row to the middle of the interrow, mainly for the double-row arrangements. There was positive correlation between crown radius and area per tree, except for the clone 02, and negative with LAI for the clone 19. The highest brachiaria production was obtained in the arrangements 9 × 3 m (clones GG100 and 62) and (3 × 3) + 9 m (clone 62). Brachiaria production varied across the interrow for clone 58 in the (2 × 2) + 10 m arrangement and for the clone 62 in the double-row arrangements. LAI was not significantly correlated with brachiaria production for the tree planting spatial arrangements and the genotypes studied. Further studies should include larger distances between hedgerows to allow greater resources availability differences across the interrow.

Beschreibung: Recent studies have highlighted the importance of trees and agroforestry in climate change adaptation and mitigation. This paper analyzes how farmers, members of their households, and community leaders in the Wahig–Inabanga watershed, Bohol province in the Philippines perceive of climate change, and define and value the roles of trees in coping with climate risks. Focus group discussions revealed that farmers and community leaders had observed changes in rainfall and temperature over the years. They also had positive perceptions of tree roles in coping with climate change, with most timber tree species valued for regulating functions, while non-timber trees were valued as sources of food and income. Statistical analysis of the household survey results was done through linear probability models for both determinants of farmers' perceived changes in climate, and perceived importance of tree roles in coping with climate risks. Perceiving of changes in rainfall was more likely among farmers who had access to electricity, had access to water for irrigation, and derived climate information from government agencies and mass media, and less likely among farmers who were members of farmers' organizations. On the other hand, perceiving of an increase in temperature was more likely among famers who were members of women's organizations and had more off/non-farm sources of income, and less likely among those who derived climate information from government agencies. Meanwhile, marginal effects of the regression on perceived importance of trees in coping with climate change revealed positively significant relationships with the following predictor variables: access to electricity, number of off/non-farm sources of income, having trees planted by household members, observed increase in temperature and decline in yield, and sourcing climate information from government agencies. In contrast, a negatively significant relationship was observed between recognition of the importance of tree roles, and level of education, and deriving income from tree products. In promoting tree-based adaptation, we recommend improving access to necessary inputs and resources, exploring the potentials of farmer-to-farmer extension, using participatory approaches to generate farmer-led solutions based on their experiences of climate change, and initiating government-led extension to farmers backed by non-government partners.

Beschreibung: Estimation of aboveground tree biomass and carbon in mixed maize/tree parklands by nondestructive means requires the development of allometric equations from readily measurable variables such as diameter at breast height and tree height. Equations of this type have not been well developed for Faidherbia albida in eastern and southern Africa. In this study, F. albida trees were characterized in block plantings and in naturally regenerating parklands at six sites in Malawi. Allometric equations were developed for block planted and parkland management regimes. Forty-five intact trees with diameters ranging from 5 to 38 cm were sampled in the block planting while in parklands thirty-eight trees with diameters ranging from 5 to 116 cm were sampled. Destructive sampling was used to measure volumes and collect wood samples. Diameter at breast height, tree height and crown areas were used as predictors for dry weight of the above-ground biomass. Comparing the estimated equations to previously published data shows that these local species-specific equations differ slightly and that both can be used in the estimation of biomass in F. albida trees. Individual trees in parklands stored more biomass and carbon while block-planted trees stored more biomass per hectare. In parklands, F. albida crown area cover per hectare was 17.8 %, but could feasibly be increased under natural regeneration to as much as 23.1 %.

Beschreibung: Globally about 23 % of the dry lands are affected by soil degradation due to lack of soil organic carbon (SOC). Increasing temperature and artificial stress of various management practices including tillage accelerate soil aggregate breakdown and increase the loss of soil organic carbon to the atmosphere. This study was conducted for comparing SOC fraction in different land use and soil management types in arid soils of Rajasthan and to study the effects of temperature fluctuation on soil organic carbon fraction dynamics. In the experiment two temperature regimes were maintained; ambient and elevated (ambient + 40 °C). All the soil organic carbon fractions were analyzed and it was revealed that soil organic carbon fractions were more under trees (0.33 %) compared to grass (0.23 %) land use system. The mean soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and dehydrogenase activity under trees were 13.9 µg C/g soil, 3.2 pkat/g and under grasses were 10.8 µg C/g soil, 2.0 pkat/g respectively. The SOC content under temperature fluctuated samples were about 18 % higher than the control samples. Overall increasing temperature to about 45 °C reduced the SMBC to an extent of 19 % compared to room temperature and the dehydrogenase activity was about 9 % lower than room temperature.

Beschreibung: Attention has been focused on the utilization of useful genetic resources in developing elite parental lines and making Jatropha hybrids for incorporating superior traits in Jatropha germplasm. Evaluations of morphological and yield contributing traits in F1 progeny have been made and hybrids having high seed yield and oil content have been identified. Multiplication of these hybrid lines was undertaken through stem cuttings. To develop Jatropha hybrids through intraspecific hybridization, twenty three accessions were collected from different parts of the country and grown on wastelands under semi-arid conditions. All the germplasm were assessed for desirable traits and cross-combinations were made between identified accessions of J . curcas based on considerable seed yield and higher oil content. Growth and yield performance was recorded from plants raised through stem cuttings of various cross combinations and studies were undertaken in four leading hybrids along with their respective parents. Two years old plants developed from the cross IC565735 × IC565739 proved to be the best with 75 % fruit set, 300 g seed yield per plant and 39.02 % oil content.

Beschreibung: This paper quantifies roots down to 1 m depth in two study-sites of a short-fallow multi-cycle shifting-cultivation system in eastern Amazonia. Root biomass was 38.7 Mg ha −1 in the 3-year-old fallow-site and 12.7 Mg ha −1 in the 1.5-year-old cultivation-site, corresponding to 55.9 % (fallow-site) and 65.1 % (cultivation-site) of total ecosystem biomass. Root distribution was shallow, with 33–41 % of all roots and 47–55 % of fine roots concentrated in the top 10 cm. Cultivation caused large reduction of topsoil fine-root biomass. We specially focus on roots of the ruderal babassu palm, very widespread and increasingly dominant in degraded lands throughout deforested Amazonia. Whereas babassu-shares in total root biomass (14.9–25.2 %) were similar to aboveground biomass-shares, fine-root shares were substantially higher (29.0–44.1 %), pointing to great competitive strength of this palm. Fine roots of babassu and of all other vegetation were closely correlated, suggesting that both occupy the same space within the study sites and throughout the soil profile, contrary to hypotheses of babassu vertical resource complementarity or deepsoil nutrient-pumping. Babassu coarse-roots were markedly deeper than those of remaining vegetation, a serious obstacle for density-control efforts. This study indicates that intensification of shifting-cultivation strongly increases the role of roots, with high coarse root biomass and root:shoot-ratios, and strong plasticity of the fine-root component to environmental changes associated with slash & burn, cultivation- and fallow-phases. Roots are key for the environmental success of ruderal babassu. We find (i) a high biomass-share in fine roots which guarantees high competitivity in soil resource acquisition, and (ii) significant coarse root stocks in the subsoil, well protected reserves which guarantee vigorous resprouting in multi-cycle slash & burn.

Beschreibung: Agroforestry has emerged as a pertinent answer to the challenges of modern agriculture. Agroforestry landscapes characterization allows to conduct a management policy of rural and mountain landscapes and to produce economical, environmental and social benefits. Due to its geographical location and its natural potential, the rural Agoudi N’Lkhir Municipality has very rich and diversified agroforestry assets: arboriculture and considerable forestry resources. However, these agroforestry landscapes are subject to accelerated degradation due to anthropogenic and natural factors are causing the weakening of the natural environment. The purpose of our study is to determine the agroforestry landscapes characteristics of Agoudi N’Lkhir rural municipality, the dynamics of these agroforestry landscapes and responsible partners for the management of these landscapes. The methodology of this study uses the synergy between several techniques: geographical information system (GIS), field survey, processing and analyzing remote sensing images data, and finally the use of landscaped and agroforestry diagnosis. The results showed that the forest of the municipality decreased strongly in the order of 36 % in 35 years (1973–2008). The most of agriculture and livestock are traditional (Bour) and should undergo an appropriate development. The paper highlights policy and efforts to do for developing the rural mountainous agroforestry landscapes of Agoudi N’Lkhir Municipality and identifies entry points for success agroforestry adoption. To improve the current situation of agroforestry system, the different managers of this space must meet, discuss and consult with all stakeholders to launch together, in a perspective of sustainable development and management actions of this territory.

Beschreibung: Managing agricultural land for carbon sequestration becomes more important with rising needs for greenhouse gas mitigation measures. Woodland establishment in upland grasslands can be a carbon sink, but soil carbon losses have also been observed. Dedicated woodland plots and silvopasture are two contrasting strategies to achieve increased carbon stocks. We compared the carbon sequestration potential of the two approaches with three tree species (Hybrid Larch, Scots Pine and Sycamore) planted on permanent pasture on an upland farm in North East Scotland, 24 years after planting. Soil organic carbon was measured in the A (~0–30 cm) and B (~30–50) horizons. The soil carbon was also fractionated into labile, protected and resistant pools. Litter layers were measured and tree biomass carbon was estimated using allometric equations. We found that total soil carbon stocks (A plus B horizon) were similar and did not differ significantly between treatments, but for both coniferous species silvopasture tended to have the greater soil carbon stock followed by woodland, whereas Sycamore had the greater stock in the woodland treatment; pasture had the least carbon stock. Woodland stored more carbon in the labile fractions and litter layer than both pasture and silvopasture of all treatments, which had similar levels of stabilized carbon. Biomass per tree was significantly greater in the silvopasture treatments for all species, but on a per hectare basis woodland stored significantly more carbon. Land management comparison shows that large proportions of grassland would need to be converted to woodland to provide similar carbon benefits as the integrative silvopastoral system.

Beschreibung: This study unites physicochemical indicators of aboveground vegetation, litter layer and topsoil (0–20 cm) in contrasting vegetation types commonly found in the eastern Amazonia. We compare three agroforestry systems (enriched fallows, homegardens and commercial plantations) with three spontaneous forest types (young and old secondary forests and mature rainforests) via one-way ANOVA, linear and non-linear regressions and multivariate analyses. Agroforests had significantly lower understory biomass when compared with young secondary forest. Commercial plantation agroforests had higher topsoil pH and Ca-contents and homegardens had higher K-contents and P-availability hotspots, as revealed by their higher variance and single very high values. Agroforests and spontaneous forests were similar in their litter biomass (both leaves and twigs) and C:N ratio, and in soil organic matter and P contents. The overstory negatively impacted the understory ( r 2  = 0.20, p  〈 0.05) and the understory correlated significantly with the litter layer ( r 2  = 0.11, p  〈 0.07). By contrast, there were no direct relationships between overstory and the litter layer, pointing to a major discontinuity between vegetation and topsoil. Principal component analysis depicted a successional sequence of systems, with homegardens closest to mature rainforests. According to co-inertia analysis, plant biomass was more strongly related to topsoil in spontaneous forests than in agroforests. Altogether, agroforests were similar to mature rainforests in a wide range of variables of the vegetation, litter and topsoil, and co-inertia analysis indicated that agroforestry management can alter this continuum. Our results point to an outstanding position of homegardens in the study region, with higher aboveground biomass and elevated nutrient availability which may have been caused by the traditional sweep-and-burn low-intensity fire regime prevalent throughout Amazonia and beyond.