Muhammad Waheed, Fahim Arshad, Kaniz Fatima, Asma Jabeen, Abeer Al-Andal, Abdullayev Abdulla Fayzulla Ugli, Baxtigul Nurullayeva, Oygul Khujaniyozova
{"title":"Optimizing agroforestry systems through traditional ecological knowledge: a sustainable model for tree species selection in semi-arid lowland region","authors":"Muhammad Waheed, Fahim Arshad, Kaniz Fatima, Asma Jabeen, Abeer Al-Andal, Abdullayev Abdulla Fayzulla Ugli, Baxtigul Nurullayeva, Oygul Khujaniyozova","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01277-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry systems are crucial for sustainable agriculture, yielding diverse environmental, economic, and cultural benefits. Traditional and local knowledge is paramount in tree species selection, especially in areas lacking access to scientific resources. This study assessed the traditional knowledge and socioeconomic indicators that affect tree species selection in various agroforestry systems of semi-arid lowland regions. Data were collected from 400 respondents using semi-structured interviews, with emphases on growth parameters, ecosystem services, economic contributions, and cultural values. Indicator‐species analysis was applied to assess the relative importance of tree species using respondents’ data. Principal Component Analysis was implemented to determine trends in species selection based on diverse criteria, as well as interrelations between citations and indicator values using regression models. Results highlighted a total of 48 tree species spread across 29 families with Fabaceae having the highest dominancy. <i>Senegalia modesta</i> was the best indicator for tree species selection concerning growth parameters for its preference based on drought tolerance and high adaptability. Ecosystem services ranked <i>Morus nigra</i> and <i>Mangifera indica</i> highly for shade, fodder, and support to biodiversity. For economic contributions, Dalbergia sissoo and Populus alba featured prominently due to their high demand in the market and export rates. <i>Ficus religiosa</i> and <i>Ficus benghalensis</i> were given utmost priority for being sacred and possessing symbolic values. Growth parameters and ecosystem services emerged as the primary traditional indicators used for tree species selection in semi-arid lowland region agroforestry systems. Results indicate that the future of agroforestry practices should lay emphasis on economic indicators such as profitability and export potential, while considering ecological as well as cultural factors to allow for sustainable development. This work highlights the coalescence of traditional knowledge and scientific methods aimed at maximizing the agroforestry system's efficiency, balancing both environmental as well as socio-economic challenges prevalent in semi-arid regions. By bridging traditional wisdom with modern analysis, the research provides take-home messages toward sustainable land use practices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Agroforestry Systems","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-025-01277-7","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AGRONOMY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Agroforestry systems are crucial for sustainable agriculture, yielding diverse environmental, economic, and cultural benefits. Traditional and local knowledge is paramount in tree species selection, especially in areas lacking access to scientific resources. This study assessed the traditional knowledge and socioeconomic indicators that affect tree species selection in various agroforestry systems of semi-arid lowland regions. Data were collected from 400 respondents using semi-structured interviews, with emphases on growth parameters, ecosystem services, economic contributions, and cultural values. Indicator‐species analysis was applied to assess the relative importance of tree species using respondents’ data. Principal Component Analysis was implemented to determine trends in species selection based on diverse criteria, as well as interrelations between citations and indicator values using regression models. Results highlighted a total of 48 tree species spread across 29 families with Fabaceae having the highest dominancy. Senegalia modesta was the best indicator for tree species selection concerning growth parameters for its preference based on drought tolerance and high adaptability. Ecosystem services ranked Morus nigra and Mangifera indica highly for shade, fodder, and support to biodiversity. For economic contributions, Dalbergia sissoo and Populus alba featured prominently due to their high demand in the market and export rates. Ficus religiosa and Ficus benghalensis were given utmost priority for being sacred and possessing symbolic values. Growth parameters and ecosystem services emerged as the primary traditional indicators used for tree species selection in semi-arid lowland region agroforestry systems. Results indicate that the future of agroforestry practices should lay emphasis on economic indicators such as profitability and export potential, while considering ecological as well as cultural factors to allow for sustainable development. This work highlights the coalescence of traditional knowledge and scientific methods aimed at maximizing the agroforestry system's efficiency, balancing both environmental as well as socio-economic challenges prevalent in semi-arid regions. By bridging traditional wisdom with modern analysis, the research provides take-home messages toward sustainable land use practices.
期刊介绍:
Agroforestry Systems is an international scientific journal that publishes results of novel, high impact original research, critical reviews and short communications on any aspect of agroforestry. The journal particularly encourages contributions that demonstrate the role of agroforestry in providing commodity as well non-commodity benefits such as ecosystem services. Papers dealing with both biophysical and socioeconomic aspects are welcome. These include results of investigations of a fundamental or applied nature dealing with integrated systems involving trees and crops and/or livestock. Manuscripts that are purely descriptive in nature or confirmatory in nature of well-established findings, and with limited international scope are discouraged. To be acceptable for publication, the information presented must be relevant to a context wider than the specific location where the study was undertaken, and provide new insight or make a significant contribution to the agroforestry knowledge base