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The Need for Sustainable Agricultural Land-Use Systems: Benefits from Integrated Agroforestry Systems

  • 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, theThis 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.show moreshow less

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Author: Maik VesteORCiD, Jonathan P. Sheppard, Issaka Abdulai, Kwabena K. Ayisi, Lars Borrass, Paxie W. Chirwa, Roger FunkORCiD
URL:https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21
ISBN:978-3-031-10947-8
ISBN:978-3-031-10948-5
Title of the source (English):Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change
Publisher:Springer
Place of publication:Cham
Editor: Graham P. von MaltitzORCiD, Guy F. MidgleyORCiD, Jennifer VeitchORCiD, Christian BrümmerORCiD, Reimund P. RötterORCiD, Finn A. Viehberg, Maik VesteORCiD
Document Type:Part of a book (chapter)
Language:English
Year of publication:2024
Tag:Agriculture; Agroforestry; SPACES II; Shelterbelt; Tree - crop competition; Windbreak
First Page:587
Last Page:623
Series ; volume number:Ecological Studies ; 248
Way of publication:Open Access
Faculty/Chair:Fakultät 2 Umwelt und Naturwissenschaften / FG Bodenschutz und Rekultivierung
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