TY - CHAP A1 - Veste, Maik A1 - Sheppard, Jonathan P. A1 - Abdulai, Issaka A1 - Ayisi, Kwabena K. A1 - Borrass, Lars A1 - Chirwa, Paxie W. A1 - Funk, Roger ED - Maltitz, Graham P. von ED - Midgley, Guy F. ED - Veitch, Jennifer ED - Brümmer, Christian ED - Rötter, Reimund P. ED - Viehberg, Finn A. ED - Veste, Maik T1 - The Need for Sustainable Agricultural Land-Use Systems: Benefits from Integrated Agroforestry Systems T2 - Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change N2 - This chapter introduces the different agroforestry systems (AFSs) as part of the diversification of agricultural landscapes and gives examples of their use in different related crop production systems in southern Africa. The introduction of trees into agriculture has several benefits and can mitigate the effects of climate change. For example nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs contribute significantly to nutrient recycling and benefit soil conservation, which is particularly important for smallholder farms. In addition, shelterbelts play an important role in reducing wind speeds, and thus, evapotranspiration, and modifying the microclimatic conditions, which is an important factor for the adaptation of cropping systems to climate change. These integrated AFS landscapes provide important ecosystem services for soil protection, food security and for biodiversity. However, deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region were identified. Furthermore, the following factors must be considered to optimise AFS: (1) selection of tree species that ensure maximum residual soil fertility beyond 3 years, (2) size of land owned by the farmer, (3) integrated nutrition management, where organic resources are combined with synthetic inorganic fertilisers and (4) tree-crop competition in the root zone for water. KW - Tree - crop competition KW - Agroforestry KW - Agriculture KW - Shelterbelt KW - Windbreak KW - SPACES II Y1 - 2024 UR - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21 SN - 978-3-031-10947-8 SN - 978-3-031-10948-5 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21 SP - 587 EP - 623 PB - Springer CY - Cham ER -