International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN: 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (10), pp. 232-245, October, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sunlight environment for vanilla planifolia cultivated by agroforestry system in East Kalimantan

¹Kunio Kitai and ²Abubakar M. Lahjie

¹Department of Forest Science and Resources, College of Bioresource Science, Nihon University,-cum-Doctoral Students Forest Science of Mulawarman University.

²Faculty of Forestry, Mulawarman University.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 15 September, 2015; Revised 15 February, 2016; Accepted 19 March, 2016 and Published 25 October, 2016

Abstract

Key words: Agroforestry, vanilla, cultivation, equatorial region, sunlight environment, sunlight intensity, shade control, pruning, support trees, color of leaves, disturbance.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (10), pp. 221-231, October, 2016. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

An assessment on the effects of different land management systems on soil quality, resistance and resilience in Brazil’s semiarid region

Oscar Roberto Amado^1,2*, Bruna N. Lewgoy^2,3, Rodrigo salles⁴, sergio Mello Costa⁴, Walter Santos⁵ and Franciso G. Vieira⁶

¹Faculdade de Educação, Ciências e Letras do Sertão Central - Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Quixadá-CE, 69000-000, Brazil.

²Post-graduate Program in Ecology and Natural Resources, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza – CE, 60455-760, Brazil.

³Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Piauí, Corrente – PI, 64980-000, Brazil.

⁴Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza – CE, 60455-760, Brazil.

⁵Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas – MG, 35701-970, Brazil. ⁶Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa – MG, 36570-000, Brazil.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 July, 2016

Abstract

Agroforestry represents an alternative to traditional agricultural systems in semiarid regions, since it effectively provides soil coverage and improves the amount and quality of soil organic matter. The sustainability of agricultural systems can be assessed by evaluating soil quality, resistance and resilience. Therefore, this work evaluated soil quality, resistance and resilience under traditional cropping and agroforestry systems. The study took place at an experimental station in Brazil’s semiarid northeast region. Studied land use systems include agrosilvopastoral, silvopastoral and traditional cropping, as well as areas under traditional fallow for six and nine years and unaltered ecosystem. Small trenches were dug randomly to collect soil from three depth increments. Soil Quality (SQ) was assessed using chemical, physical and biological indicators. Based on these indicators, resistance, resilience and soil quality indices were calculated. The index quality of the soil was generated using soil water retention, nutrient supply and biological activity promotion functions. Comparisons of index means indicate that agroforests maintained SQ, while traditional fallow systems resulted in improved SQ up to levels similar to the unaltered ecosystem. Traditional cropping lead to a reduction in SQ, resistance and resilience. Agroforestry systems are sustainable. Fallow can improve soil quality, soil resistance and resilience.

Key words: Agrosilvopastoral, silvopastoral, slash-and-burn agriculture, agricultural sustainability, soil management, conservation.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (9), pp. 214-220, September, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Agronomic features of sorghum in an agroforestry system with Eucalyptus in semiarid regions

Eduardo G. Amado¹*, Fernando O. Carlos² and Bruna Alice Braga³

¹Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, ICA-UFMG Av. Universitária, no. 1000 Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros-MG, CEP: 39404 -547, Brasil.

²Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, ICIAG-UFU Av. Amazonas, s/n. Bloco 2E, Umuarama, Uberlândia-MG, CEP: 38400-902. CP. 593, Brasil.

³Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Endereço: Av. Reinaldo Viana, 2630, Bairro Bico da Pedra, Caixa Postal 91. Janaúba-MG Brasil.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 August, 2016

Abstract

The evaluation of agronomic characteristics of crops is important because they may be influenced by the height, density and spatial arrangements of eucalyptus in an agroforestry system. These silvicultural characteristics may interfere with height and productivity of crops between the rows of the tree component due to shading, competition for water and nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the assessed site on some agronomic characteristics such as height, grain yield and effective yield of BRS 655 forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench) with different clones and arrangements of eucalyptus in the north of Minas Gerais. Experimental randomized block with a split-plot design and five replications was used to evaluate sorghum. The effective productivity and height of sorghum comparing to the average values in the area were low. The GG 100 clone (Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis ) showed low adaptation to semi-arid region while the MA 2001 clone (Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. Tereticornes) presented greater height. The low values of some agronomic characteristics of sorghum were due to the distance between the rows of eucalyptus. The 2 × 3 + (15 m) and 2 × 3 + (20 m) arrangements of eucalyptus generated higher sorghum plants regardless of the clone.

Key words: Effective productivity, arrangements, height, sorghum, clone.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 210-213, August, 2016. © International Scholars Journals 

Review

Perceptions and practices of Agroforestry in sustainable land use systems in Nigeria

Onoriode G. Marculey¹* and Rudolf A. C Esiri²

¹Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, College of Forestry and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P. M. B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.

²Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University , P. M. B. 5001, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 15 May, 2016

Abstract 

Agroforestry has been defined as a dynamic ecologically based natural resources management system that through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels. This paper highlighted Agroforestry practices and concepts in sustainable land use systems. The benefit derivable from the interface between forest trees and agricultural crops are enormous. They include the optimal use of land for both agricultural and forestry production on a sustainable basis including the improvement of the quality of soil. This is in addition to the socio-economic benefits that are accruable from agroforestry. Indeed the advantage of agroforestry is all encompassing and germane to a sustainable production system and livelihood.

Key words: Agroforestry, practices, concepts, sustainable, land use systems.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 203-209, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of agroforestry species in potential fallows areas in Northern Togo

Deng H. Jinping^1,3, Jiang Howe Qing^2,4 , Lin Wong Zemin¹* and Zhao Chiang Wong³

¹The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China. 

²College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. ³Université de Lomé, Laboratoire de botanique et écologie végétale, Faculté des sciences, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo. ⁴College of Agronomy, IPR / IFRA, Katibougou Bp: 06, Koulikoro, Mali.

E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 18 May, 2016

Abstract

The surrender and no juridical statute areas of Northern Togo protected areas were subjected to forest inventory. The data obtained was analyzed after ethnobotanical investigation. The research was conducted in order to determine available forest agroforestry species. It is also aimed to assess and to determine their roles and functions; and to characterize the potential parkland of these areas. The 118 forest samples were processed floristically .Then, Ward method was used through the hierarchical clustering to cluster them into the main group. The agroforestry species sorted after ethnobotanic survey, were analyzed base on the information collected. The results showed that fifty plant species were recorded, among which twenty nine are agroforestry species. The Combretaceae and Leguminous are both the most frequent and the abundant families in the areas. The common agroforestry species still are Vitellaria paradoxa, Parkia biglobosa, Lannea kerstingii, Vitex doniana, Ficus gnaphalocarpa, Sterculia setigera, Tamarindus indica and Adansonia digitata. Four potential agroforestry parklands were found. Parks 2 and 3 present the aspect of regular parkland while the two others include some old fallows and shrubby savanna. The results of this study also show that apart from the frequently quoted agroforestry species, there are also many species which are important for the farmers.

Key words: Agroforestry, surrender, protected, areas, Togo.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 197-202, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

The efficiency of agricultural crops in the present agrihortisilvicultural system in India

Randvidhi E. Vijay

Faculty of Technical Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest Management, P.O. Box 357, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 April, 2016

Abstract 

The paper summarizes the productivity of various agricultural crops under existing agrihortisilviculture (AHS) system in northern and southern aspects of mid hills of Central Western Garhwal Himalaya (Narendra Nagar block of district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand), India between 1000 to 2000 m asl during Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) seasons. The northern aspect was more diverse and formed good vegetation composition, both in terms of forest crops and in agricultural productivity. The tree diversity and richness was recorded to be higher in northern aspect. A total of 18 tree species were reported in the northern aspect and 13 in the southern aspect of AHS systems. The Grewia optiva was observed as dominant tree species and Citrus sinensis as co-dominant species in the northern and southern aspects. The northern aspect observed with higher grain productivity under tree (1326 kg/ha/year) and sole cropping (2471 kg/ha/year) compared to southern aspect; similarly, the northern aspect proved to be higher in straw productivity under trees (3587 kg/ha/year) and treeless (4510 kg/ha/year) situation for both Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) crops. Overall, there is an average reduction of 45.05% in gain yield and 29.53% in biological yield compared to sole agricultural cropping in northern aspect. The average reduction in the grain yield (29.08%) and biological yield (28.77%) was lower in the southern aspect. It was summarized that the reduction in the agricultural produce under agrihortisilviculture system is supplemented by multiferous benefits of woody perennials which is life supporting to the rural community of this hilly landscape.

Key words: Agrihortisilviculture (AHS) system, grain productivity, biological productivity, northern aspect, southern aspect, IVI (importance value index).