Does Agroforestry practices conserve soil over a short period of time? After how long do we expect soil erosion rate to decrease in agroforestry experiments?
Perennial woody tree species are important components of agroforestry system that play an important role in soil conservation.Trees conserve soil, primarily through surface litter cover and understorey vegetation, increase of organic matter content, nitrogen fixation, improvement of physical properties and enhanced efficiency of nutrient use. Please take a look at the following links and PDF attachments for more details.
Article Valuing Soil Conservation Benefits of Agroforestry Practices
Article Agroforestry Practices for Improving Soil Nutrient Status
Article The Role of Agroforestry in Environmental Sustainability
Book THE ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY IN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/downloads/Publications/PDFS/03_Agroforestry_for_soil_conservation.pdf
Hello, At the same time, agroforestry practices can increase energy security considerably in the short run because they can deliver additional fuelwood within a few years, increase agricultural productivity and restore land properties and services .
Plantations always helpful for soil conservation. Agroforestry system is another good method of soil conservation.
Thanks for the comments and details information. Which methods can we use to valuate Agroforestry practices
Agroforestry practices can include the following roles:
It is necessary to have a high density of the vegetation cover
I believe it depends on both the density of the agroforestry plantation and the soil and water conservation practices associated with the system. If in the previous stages to the implantation of the system involve contour lines, green fertilization, deposition of organic matter to keep the soil covered, among others, erosion protection will be initiated even with the system in young phase. However, the simple implantation of the agroforestry system and the level of densification (more or less dense planting), without the adoption of these other conservation measures, probably protection against erosion will only be effective in the adult phase of the system. These soil conservation measures must still be properly maintained and continuously improved to ensure their effectiveness.
I suggest the continuous evaluation of the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil, before the implantation of the agroforestry system, in the system still young and in the adult phase. Also the evaluation of erosion levels before and after implantation. Shade estimation within agroforestry systems, since the microclimate provided by shade directly influences the rate of germination and establishment of undesirable plants, as well as in the productivity of cultivated agricultural crops. There are researches that synthesize ecological and social indicators of cultivation in agroforestry systems, involving a series of variables that show the success or failure of these practices.
It control soil erosion and retain the soil properties
They regulate nutrient cycle
Agroforestry does not conserve soil over a short period of time but result will be seen usually after two to three years
Actually, it depends on the selection of tree and companion crops and farming system. Sometimes, climatic factors can also effect on this
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