Agroforestry Systems最新文献

{"title":"Ant diversity and composition in Silvopastoral system with nuclei: biodiversity conservation through agroecological applied nucleation","authors":"Ana C. Heck,&nbsp;Abdon L. Schmitt Filho,&nbsp;Felix B. Rosumek,&nbsp;Eduardo L. H. Giehl,&nbsp;Joshua Farley,&nbsp;Paulo A. Sinisgalli,&nbsp;Fernando Joner","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01488-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01488-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Applied nucleation is an ecological restoration technique used to enhance forest restoration in large scale projects. Silvopastoral System with Nuclei (SPSnu) was based on applied nucleation where trees nuclei and animals are integrated synergically to provide shade, non-timber forest products and increase diversity. While agroforestry systems are recognized for biodiversity conservation, the mechanistic role of tree nuclei in shaping ant communities remains underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of a silvopastoral system with tree nuclei (1.SPSnu) on ant (myrmecofauna) diversity and community composition compared with treeless pasture (2.TLP) and small forest remnants (3.FR). Epigeic ant communities were sampled using pitfall traps in these three habitats on three dairy farms located in the Atlantic Forest biome in southern Brazil. Based on Hill-number richness estimates standardized by sample size and coverage, SPSnu tended to exhibit richness values comparable to forest remnants and higher than treeless pastures (48, 55 and 31 species recorded, respectively), while species composition was more similar to treeless pastures. Species composition differed significantly among habitats (SIMPROF, p &lt; 0.05), with forests forming a distinct group, while SPSnu clustered more closely with treeless pastures. Forest remnants were characterized by frequent occurrences of <i>Pachycondyla striata</i>, <i>Holcoponera striatula</i>, <i>Odontomachus chelifer</i>, and <i>Pheidole sarcina</i>, whereas treeless pastures were dominated by <i>Solenopsis</i> spp. and <i>Nylanderia</i> sp. SPSnu shared dominant taxa with both habitats but lacked several forest-associated species. Our study showed the benefits of agroecological applied nucleation to ant communities in SPSnu, and suggests that its application in agroecosystems may reconcile agriculture, ecological rehabilitation, and biodiversity conservation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01488-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil microorganisms in a temperate agroforestry system are shaped by soil depth and fertilization rate","authors":"Zita Bednar-Konski,&nbsp;Markus Arndt,&nbsp;Anna Vaupel,&nbsp;Nadine Herwig,&nbsp;Virna Estefanía Morán-Rodas,&nbsp;Marife D. Corre,&nbsp;Edzo Veldkamp,&nbsp;Lukas Beule","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01498-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01498-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Temperate agroforestry can offer numerous environmental benefits over open croplands, including improved soil health. Recent studies suggest that adequate nutrient management (i.e., reduced fertilizer inputs) in agroforestry systems may even further improve their environmental performance. We conducted a 4-year fertilization experiment (regular vs. reduced mineral fertilization) in a paired short-rotation poplar alley-cropping and a reference open cropland system and assessed microbial abundance, bacterial community composition, as well as abundance of functional genes involved in N cycling in topsoil and subsoil. Within the alley-cropping system, soil samples were collected along transects spanning from the tree strips into the crop alley. Tree strips altered bacterial community composition and promoted fungal abundance in both topsoil and subsoil, likely due to the absence of soil management. Soil depth was the largest driver of bacterial community composition, which we relate to changes in resource availability with soil depth. Reduced fertilization did not alter microbial abundance and bacterial diversity across management systems, while the relative abundance of several bacterial taxa was affected by the fertilization rate. For instance, in both management systems, reduced fertilization decreased the relative abundance of <i>Nitrospira</i> spp. in topsoil. Additionally, their abundance in topsoil was lower in the unfertilized tree strips than in the fertilized agroforestry crop alley and open cropland, suggesting that mineral fertilizer promotes these nitrifiers in topsoil. Overall, although microbial abundance typically benefits from fertilizer inputs, the reduced fertilization treatment did not compromise soil microbial abundance nor bacterial diversity, indicating the absence of trade-offs between adequate nutrient management and soil microbial communities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01498-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart agroforestry interventions for enhancing livelihood and ecological resilience in semi-arid regions","authors":"Prabhat Tiwari,&nbsp;Garima Gupta,&nbsp;Pankaj Lavania,&nbsp;Soumyajeet Sahu,&nbsp;Preeti Kumari,&nbsp;Manmohan Dobriyal,&nbsp;S. S. Singh,&nbsp;Manish Srivastav,&nbsp;A. K. Singh,&nbsp;Pavan Kumar","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01497-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01497-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry is increasingly recognized as a climate-resilient land-use strategy for strengthening livelihood security and ecological sustainability in semi-arid regions. Smallholder farmers in Bundelkhand, India, face persistent challenges of water scarcity, soil degradation and climate variability, requiring science-backed models for sustainable intensification. This study evaluated the survival, growth performance, and spacing responses of three fast-growing multipurpose tree species <i>Gmelina arborea, Neolamarckiacadamba,</i> and <i>Melia dubia</i> established through 15 farmer-managed Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) in two villages, complemented by a controlled trial to benchmark intrinsic species performance. Baseline soil properties, farmer-level management variability, and cropping histories were incorporated as covariates to ensure robust inference under heterogeneous field conditions. Results revealed pronounced species site interactions. <i>N. cadamba</i> exhibited the most stable survival (~ 60%) across both villages, reflecting its high adaptability to semi-arid conditions. <i>M. dubia</i> showed exceptional growth in village 1(up to 1700–2100 cm in three years) but displayed strong sensitivity to soil moisture and microclimatic variation, whereas <i>G. arborea</i> performed uniformly well in village 2, achieving the highest height increments under local edaphic conditions. Spacing significantly influenced system performance: closer spacing (5 m × 3 m) enhanced overall productivity and yielded the highest Combined Performance Index (CPI = 0.554) by maximizing tree height while maintaining acceptable intercrop yields. Wider spacing improved chickpea and lentil productivity but reduced system-level output. Tree–crop correlation analysis indicated negative associations with chickpea (r = –0.31) due to shading and competition, while lentil exhibited positive correlations (r =  + 0.42), highlighting crop-specific compatibility with growing tree canopies. Overall, findings underscore that species-site matching, spacing optimization, and farmer-driven management is critical to scaling climate-resilient agroforestry. The Smart Agroforestry (SAF) approach demonstrated here provides actionable insights for enhancing productivity, ecological restoration, and livelihood diversification, contributing directly to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in drought-prone regions like Bundelkhand.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing the ecological apparency hypothesis in Sudano-Sahelian parklands in Burkina Faso","authors":"Larba Hubert Balima,&nbsp;Alexis Sompougdou,&nbsp;Benjamin Lankoandé,&nbsp;Zomizi Frank Calixte Coulibaly,&nbsp;Philippe Bayen,&nbsp;Jules Bayala","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01496-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01496-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry, by integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems, serves as an effective nature-based solution for strengthening climate resilience and food security. While its adoption has received increasing research attention in West Africa, the relationships between plants’ apparency and local importance remain poorly understood. This study aims to examine whether plants’ ecological apparency in parklands explains their local importance to farming households. We conducted ethnobotanical surveys with 150 farmers, and carried out vegetation inventories in their parklands. Use Value (UV) and Importance Value Index (IVI) were calculated as proxies for plants’ local importance and ecological apparency, respectively. Data were analyzed through linear regression, and interpreted using the language of evidence. The results showed that <i>Vitellaria paradoxa</i> (UV = 4), <i>Lannea</i> <i>microcarpa</i> (UV = 2.01) and <i>Parkia biglobosa</i> (UV = 1.72) were the most used plants, whereas <i>V. paradoxa</i> (IVI = 86.56), <i>Azadirachta indica</i> (IVI = 73.07) and <i>Adansonia digitata</i> (IVI = 31.45) were the most apparent. Evidence of positive associations was found between plants’ UV and structural parameters, supporting the ecological apparency hypothesis (EAH). Furthermore, plants’ apparency was positively associated with their importance across most use categories, with very strong evidence (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) for energy, construction and medicine, strong evidence (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) for soil fertilization and economic income, and moderate evidence (<i>P</i> = 0.02) for food. Use values by category were also positively associated with relative density, frequency and dominance. These findings indicate that the most apparent woody plants in agroforestry parklands are the most important to farmers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergizing nutrient management and mulching for onion cultivation under pomegranate-based agroforestry system in North-Western Himalayas","authors":"Prashant Rana,&nbsp;Prem Prakash,&nbsp;Rohit Bishist,&nbsp;Rohit Verma,&nbsp;Upender Singh,&nbsp;Nisha Thakur,&nbsp;Sahil Chauhan,&nbsp;Samridhi Kapoor,&nbsp;Kamal Kishore,&nbsp;Riya Pathania","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01502-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01502-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Combining fruit-based agroforestry systems with bulb crop cultivation, along with integrated nutrient management and mulching, provides a sustainable approach for developing nations to enhance productivity while preserving both soil quality and human health. This study assessed the influence of planting conditions, nutrient sources, and mulches on onion growth and yield within a wild pomegranate-based agroforestry system. This study was carried out at the experimental farm in Pandah, a facility of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, located in Nauni, Solan, India. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design (RBD, 2-factorial) with three replications, consisting of 10 treatments. viz., T₁: Absolute control, T₂: FYM (N equivalence basis), T₃: Goat manure (N equivalence basis), T₄: RDF (Recommended dose of Fertilizer), T₅: FYM + Pine mulch, T₆: RDF + Pine mulch, T₇: Goat manure + Pine mulch, T₈: FYM + Broadleaf mulch, T₉: RDF + Broad leaf mulch, T₁₀ Goat manure + Broad leaf mulch. Treatment T₉ (RDF + Broadleaf mulch) showed best results in the growth parameters and yield parameters like leaf length (53.05 cm), polar diameter (7.63 cm), equatorial diameter (7.10 cm), bulb weight (124.13 g), yield per hectare (177.35 q ha⁻¹) of onion. Treatment T₆ (FYM + broadleaf mulch) resulted in significant enhancements in soil quality. Additionally, soil parameters such as electrical conductivity (0.34 dSm⁻¹), soil organic carbon (1.01%), available nitrogen (338.76 kg ha⁻¹), available phosphorus (52.32 kg ha⁻¹), and available potassium (331.98 kg ha⁻¹) were found better under the wild pomegranate canopy compared to sole cropping. The highest gross returns (9305.43 US$ ha⁻¹) and net returns (5995.74 US$ ha⁻¹) and the highest benefit–cost ratio (2.81) was observed in treatment T₉ (RDF + Broadleaf mulch) under wild pomegranate. This research highlights the potential of combining fruit trees with bulb crops, supported by proper nutrient management and mulching, to promote sustainable farming, increase farmer income, and enhance both soil and human health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agroforestry in the service of ecological and socio-economic resilience: a systematic review of the role of local livestock breeds in Mediterranean silvopastoral systems","authors":"Khouloud Dahhou,&nbsp;Younes Hmimsa,&nbsp;Salama El Fatehi,&nbsp;Kawtar Dahhou,&nbsp;Ferdaous Sayfoudine,&nbsp;Oussama Chetaouat,&nbsp;Aicha Kinnidi,&nbsp;Amr Kchikich,&nbsp;Achraf Mabrouk,&nbsp;Anass Ben Moula","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01511-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01511-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mediterranean silvopastoral systems are complex socio-ecological landscapes that provide multiple ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, soil protection, and livelihood support for rural communities. The development of these systems is increasingly challenged by global change drivers, such as climate change and land degradation, alongside the erosion of local livestock breeds that are central to the functioning of these ecological and socio-economic systems. While local breeds are adapted to Mediterranean environmental constraints, their contribution to system resilience remains fragmented across disciplines. Through a systematic review, this study synthesizes scientific evidence on the ecological and socio-economic contribution of local livestock breeds in Mediterranean and Mediterranean-like silvopastoral systems. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A total of fifty-six studies were evaluated through a qualitative synthesis supported by a descriptive vote-counting approach to summarize reported outcomes, regardless of species, region, or management strategy. The reviewed literature suggests that locally adapted livestock breeds may contribute positively to ecosystem processes through vegetation control, biodiversity maintenance, and fire risk reduction, depending on species and silvopastoral system type. From a socio-economic perspective, local breeds were reported to provide increased livelihood security, preserve traditional knowledge, and remain cost-effective under low-input production systems. In situ management strategies were most effective when supported by appropriate combinations of economic and institutional incentives. Overall, these findings highlight the multidimensional role of local livestock breeds to ecological resilience, sustainable forest management, and climate-resilient rural livelihoods in Mediterranean silvopastoral systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agroforestry systems practised by the Ao Naga tribe of Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India","authors":"Akumnaro Jamir,&nbsp;Khwairakpam Romesh Singh","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01508-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01508-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study was conducted to document the different agroforestry systems and their components practised by the Ao Naga tribes of Mokokchung district, Nagaland. The study was carried out in three villages, namely, Chuchuyimlang, Changtongya, and Tuli. The different agroforestry systems were meticulously documented by conducting extensive field trips. In each village, 10 farmers with various farming systems were selected for in-depth interviews, and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to facilitate a more detailed examination of the systems. The systems examined include homestead agroforestry, horti-silviculture, areca-based agroforestry, agarwood-based agroforestry, and rubber-based agroforestry. Each system offers unique benefits, such as enhancing soil fertility, biodiversity, and providing multiple income sources. Despite challenges such as pest predation and infrastructure needs, these systems contribute significantly to food security, economic stability, and ecological resilience. The findings will aid in developing effective management plans to enhance rural employment, generate income, stabilize ecosystems, and promote cottage industries.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of traditional agroforestry systems on biomass and carbon stock for climate change mitigation in the North-Western Indian Himalayas","authors":"Kapoor,&nbsp;Bhupender Gupta,&nbsp;Kiran Soni,&nbsp;Ankush Moran,&nbsp;S. Balaji Naik,&nbsp;Sourav Ranjan Mohapatra","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01499-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01499-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In the wet temperate zone of India, planting trees and rearing of livestock on agricultural land is a widespread, traditional practice. This type of land-use system plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon. The socioeconomic and ecological benefits of these systems are widely adopted spanning tropical and temperate regions worldwide, addressing community needs and conferring environmental advantages. However, soil quality along with carbon (C) stock within traditional agroforestry systems (TAFS) are minimally covered. Thus, current research highlights the status and future potential of sustaining biomass and accumulating carbon across different components of TAFS in Himachal Pradesh. This research was carried out in three elevation zone classes: E₁ (1800–2100 m), E₂ (2100–2400 m), and E₃ (&gt;2400 m) and examined biomass, carbon stock, and soil properties across five AFS, including Agri-silviculture, Horti-agriculture, Horti-agri-silviculture, Horti-silvo-pasture, and Silvo-pasture. Total biomass, carbon stock, and soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, and soil bulk density differed by elevation zone (<i>p</i>&lt;0.01). It provides valuable insights for optimizing AFS to enhance carbon sequestration, mitigate the effects of global climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other vulnerable Himalayan ecosystems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contribution of biological nitrogen fixation to Leucaena forage production in intercropping systems with non-leguminous shrubs","authors":"Magnolia Tzec-Gamboa,&nbsp;Oscar Omar Álvarez-Rivera,&nbsp;Francisco J. Solorio-Sánchez","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01494-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01494-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Leguminous shrubs play a key role in forage-based tropical systems because of their potential for symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Although BNF in monocrop systems has been widely documented, quantitative field-based assessments under-mixed stands remain limited. This study evaluated BNF in <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> (Lam.) de Wit grown in monocrop and intercropped with the non-leguminous shrubs <i>Guazuma ulmifolia</i> Lam. and <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam. A two-year field experiment was established using a randomized complete block design. Forage production, total nitrogen, and the proportion of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) were quantified across five harvests. BNF was estimated using the δ¹⁵N natural abundance method, with the non-leguminous shrubs serving as reference species. δ¹⁵N values in <i>Leucaena</i> were consistently lower than those of the non-leguminous reference species, indicating active BNF. Leaves and edible stems exhibited the most depleted δ¹⁵N signatures, with %Ndfa values ranging from 67.8 to 89.6% at the first harvest. Over the experimental period, total nitrogen fixed by <i>Leucaena</i> ranged from approximately 83 to 152 kg N ha⁻¹, with greater system-level nitrogen inputs under monocropping conditions. Intercropping did not consistently increase the relative contribution of BNF, and reductions in total fixed N₂ were primarily attributable to lower <i>Leucaena</i> forage production, particularly when intercropped with <i>Moringa</i>. In contrast, the <i>Leucaena</i>–<i>Guazuma</i> association showed a more favorable forage production pattern than the <i>Leucaena</i>–<i>Moringa</i> association and was comparable to the Leucaena monocrop, with superior performance at some harvests. These findings highlight the capacity of <i>Leucaena</i> to sustain BNF under both monocrop and intercrop conditions and emphasize the importance of species selection and management objectives in the design of forage-based shrub systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grazing effects on soil compaction in mediterranean oak woodlands","authors":"Júlio Henrique Germano de Souza,&nbsp;Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada,&nbsp;Marina Castro","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01492-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01492-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluates the impact of grazing on soil compaction in two Mediterranean oak woodlands (<i>Quercus rotundifolia</i> <i>Q</i> and <i>Quercus pyrenaica</i> <i>Qp</i>) in the Montesinho Natural Park in north-eastern Portugal. In each habitat, paired fenced plots (grazed versus ungrazed) were monitored. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm in order to assess texture, bulk density, moisture content and penetration resistance. The <i>Qr</i> plot was grazed by goats at a moderate intensity for 15 consecutive days. Meanwhile, the <i>Qp</i> plot was grazed by sheep at a higher intensity for 55 intermittent days over an extended period. Soil resistance was measured using an impact penetrometer and analysed using two-way ANOVA—SS Type III, principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlations. Grazing significantly increased soil compaction in the <i>Qr</i> plots (3.03 ± 0.23 vs. 1.87 ± 0.1 Mpa), but not in the <i>Qp</i> plots (2.03 ± 0.2 vs. 1.70 ± 0.1 Mpa). Penetration resistance was positively correlated with clay content and bulk density, and negatively with silt content and moisture content. This study, conducted in Mediterranean mountain forests with <i>Q. pyrenaica</i> established on Umbric Leptosols and <i>Q. rotundifolia</i> on stony Leptosols derived from basic rocks, demonstrates that the effects of grazing on soil compaction are more closely linked to the intrinsic properties of the soil than to grazing stocking rate itself. These findings demonstrate that pre-existing soil properties modulate the effects of grazing on soil compaction, underscoring the importance of site-specific conditions in the sustainable management of Mediterranean silvopastoral systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01492-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}