Agroforestry Systems
Agrοforestry can be defined as a dynamic system of natural resources ecological management. It is the management and unification of trees, crops and animals where woody perennials such as trees, shrubs, palms and bamboos, are used in existing forests or forests created by the owners.
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Agroforestry systems are multifunctional systems that can offer a wide range of economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits in particular to smallholder farmers and other rural populations as well as enhance the supply of food, income and health. It is a flexible concept, encompassing both small and large plots of land.
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There are three main types of agroforestry systems:
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Agrisilvicultural systems: These are combinations of crops and trees, such as alley cropping or home gardens
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Silvopastoral systems: Such systems combine forestry and grazing of domesticated animals on pastures, rangelands or on-farm
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Agrosylvopastoral systems: This is the integration of all three three elements: trees, animals and crops by involving animals as well as scattered trees on croplands used for grazing after harvests.
Agroforestry Systems integrate multiple natural components and naturally come with a great number of benefits. Some of the things we can achieve with an agroforestry system is:
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Runoff and soil erosion control
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Increase soil's organic matter and biological activity
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Reduce exiting toxicities including soil acidification and salinization
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Achieve better solar energy utilization than a monocrop agricultural system
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Reduced pests and plants' diseases
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Reclaim eroded and degraded land
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Increase nitrogen inputs by incorporating nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs
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Are you ready for your Agroforestry Project Design?
Contact us to set up our first site visit!
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