Agroforestry Systems最新文献

{"title":"Agroforestry improves soil health, reshapes bacterial communities, and enhances Ricinus communis oil quality and bioactivity over monocropping: insights from comparative metagenomics and whole-genome sequencing","authors":"Krishna Saharan,&nbsp;Pradeep Pagaria,&nbsp;Taskeen Bano,&nbsp;Nishant Chauhan,&nbsp;Rabisankar Mandi,&nbsp;Anas Mohd,&nbsp;Ravi Jameriya,&nbsp; Ramesh,&nbsp;Praduman Yadav,&nbsp;Pooja Yadav,&nbsp;Naincy Rathee,&nbsp;Narsingh Chauhan,&nbsp;Ayan Sadhukhan","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01612-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01612-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study compared agroforestry (AF) and monocropping (MC) systems for castor (<i>Ricinus communis</i> L.) in arid India, establishing an integrated overview of the relationships between rhizosphere microbial restructuring, host molecular responses, and downstream crop quality. Rhizosoil analysis revealed that AF significantly enhanced soil health: pH was lower (7.6 vs. 8.3), while organic carbon and nitrogen were 1.9-fold and 1.8-fold higher, respectively. AF soil also exhibited a 3.8-fold increase in sulfur, 1.5-fold higher boron, nearly doubled dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease activities, and 1.7-fold higher soil microbial biomass carbon. Physically, AF produced larger seeds with higher germination. Castor oil from AF featured a 2.4-fold higher phenolic content, 2% more ricinoleic acid, and lower oleic and linoleic acids, correlating with the upregulation of the <i>RcDGAT2</i> gene. These shifts were accompanied by selective, concentration-dependent inhibitory effects against <i>Bacillus mobilis</i> and <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i>. 16S rRNA sequencing identified 17 bacterial phyla, dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. AF rhizosoils were enriched in nutrient-cycling and plant growth-promoting (PGP) taxa (<i>Alkalimonas</i>, <i>Brachybacterium</i>, <i>Devosia</i>, <i>Dokdonella</i>, <i>Glutamicibacter</i>, <i>Limimonas</i>, <i>Paraburkholderia</i>, <i>Rhizobium</i> and <i>Thermodesulfomicrobium</i>). Isolated root endophytic and rhizospheric <i>Bacillus safensis</i> and <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> from AF exhibited functional PGP traits, enhancing <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> growth. Whole-genome sequencing of bacterial isolates identified PGP and oil-biosynthesis genes. This study fundamentally advances current knowledge by moving beyond purely descriptive system comparisons; it delivers an integrated below-ground-to-above-ground overview demonstrating a strong correlation among AF-driven microbial recruitment, host fatty acid biosynthesis gene expression, and enhanced product bioactivity for sustainable arid agriculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614192","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":"Wood anatomical traits associated with the mechanical behavior of tree species in agroforestry systems","authors":"Elder Eloy,&nbsp;Tauana de Souza Mangini,&nbsp;Claiton Nardini,&nbsp;Guilherme Valcorte,&nbsp;Braulio Otomar Caron,&nbsp;Rômulo Trevisan,&nbsp;Jaqueline Sgarbossa","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01610-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01610-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry systems have attracted increasing interest as a sustainable alternative for timber production by integrating commercial and native tree species. However, the relationships between wood anatomy and the mechanical performance of species cultivated under these systems remain poorly understood, particularly for native species. This study investigated the relationship between wood anatomical characteristics and the mechanical properties of <i>Parapiptadenia rigida, Peltophorum dubium, Schizolobium parahyba e Eucalyptus grandis</i> × <i>Eucalyptus urophylla</i> cultivated under the same agroforestry conditions in southern Brazil. Twelve 9-year-old trees were evaluated. Wood anatomy, basic density, and mechanical properties were determined from samples collected at breast height, and the relationships among variables were assessed using Pearson’s correlation and principal component analyses. Significant differences were observed among species for all anatomical and mechanical characteristics. <i>P. rigida</i> exhibited the highest basic density (0.652 g cm⁻³), the highest ray frequency (64.8 rays mm⁻²), and the greatest mechanical performance, whereas <i>S. parahyba</i> showed the largest vessel diameter (187.1 μm), the lowest basic density (0.277 g cm⁻³), and the lowest mechanical strength. <i>P. dubium</i> and <i>E. grandis</i> × <i>E. urophylla</i> exhibited intermediate performance. Basic density, fiber cell wall fraction, and ray frequency were positively correlated with all mechanical properties, whereas vessel, fiber, and ray dimensions were negatively correlated. Multivariate analyses showed that these anatomical attributes clearly discriminated the species and explained their different mechanical performances. The results confirm that wood mechanical performance results from the interaction between anatomical organization and basic density, demonstrating that cultivation in an agroforestry system preserves the technological potential of the evaluated species while expanding the technological knowledge of native timber species for sustainable production of higher value-added wood.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01610-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614651","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":"Mediterranean alley-cropping agroforestry with walnut and medicinal and aromatic plants: 14-year insight in Sagàs, northeastern Spain","authors":"Zwe Nyi Nyi-Aung,&nbsp;Aitor Ameztegui,&nbsp;Eva Moré,&nbsp;Roser Cristóbal,&nbsp;Míriam Piqué,&nbsp;Jaime Coello","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01611-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01611-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry is increasingly promoted in Mediterranean regions as a strategy to enhance system resilience and multifunctionality, although evidence remains limited for modern alley cropping systems. We report findings from a 14-year alley-cropping experiment conducted in Sagàs (northeastern Spain) combining hybrid walnut (<i>Juglans</i> × <i>intermedia</i> Mj209 x Ra) with sage (<i>Salvia officinalis</i>, years 1–7) and lemon balm (<i>Melissa officinalis</i>, years 8–14), compared with respective monoculture systems. Linear mixed-effects models, accounting for repeated measurements, were used to assess crop and tree performance and micro-site modifications over time. During the first crop phase, sage productivity was driven primarily by interannual climate variability, with no significant treatment differences. In contrast, progressive tree canopy development during the second phase reduced understory light availability (up to ~ 50% in mid-summer) and buffered soil temperature extremes by ~ 2–3 °C. Under these conditions, lemon balm plant and leaf dry biomass declined substantially under agroforestry (41% and 42% lower than monoculture averages, respectively), indicating an increasingly detrimental tree shading effect as the system matured. Similarly, plant physiological indicators (NDVI) and quality (rosmarinic acid content) were negatively affected by tree shadowing. Hybrid walnut maintained high survival and stable physiological status in both agroforestry and monocropping systems. Agroforestry trees showed slightly higher diameter and height growth than monocropping trees, especially in the first years. Because treatments were not replicated at the system level, results should be interpreted as evidence from a long-term field experiment under operational conditions, rather than as outcomes from a fully replicated experimental trial. Overall, the study highlights that tree-crop interactions in Mediterranean alley-cropping systems are dynamic over time and species-dependent, underscoring the importance of adaptive canopy management and crop selection aligned with system development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01611-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613751","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":"Agroforestry as a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy in Ghana: a review of policy, socio-cultural, and ecological dimensions","authors":"Justice Aduko,&nbsp;John Bosco Baguri Sumani,&nbsp;Kwame Anokye","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01580-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01580-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate change threatens Ghana’s socio-ecological systems due to reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods and institutional constraints. A critical review is important because existing evidence on agroforestry’s climate role remains fragmented across isolated studies, lacking a systematic synthesis of mitigation and adaptation pathways, policy-practice gaps, and socio-cultural adoption factors in the Ghanaian context. This review examines agroforestry’s role in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Ghana, aiming to: (i) synthesize global evidence on agroforestry as a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy; (ii) assess the current state, strengths, and limitations of agroforestry practices in Ghana; and (iii) examine policy, socio-cultural, and ecological factors shaping adoption. A narrative literature review was employed, drawing on peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and grey literature (2000–2025) from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, FAO, IPCC, and Ghanaian institutions. Data were thematically analyzed using Sen’s Capability Approach and the Socio-Ecological Resilience Framework. The review finds that agroforestry systems in Ghana enhance carbon sequestration, soil fertility, microclimate regulation, biodiversity conservation, household income diversification, and smallholder resilience to droughts and rainfall variability. Cocoa agroforestry and parkland systems contribute substantially to ecosystem restoration and livelihood buffering in forest and savannah zones. However, adoption remains uneven due to insecure land and tree tenure, weak institutional coordination, limited extension capacity, and gendered access to resources. The study concludes that agroforestry constitutes a viable socio-ecological strategy for climate resilience in Ghana, but its scaling up requires coherent policy reforms, strengthened extension systems, and alignment with indigenous knowledge and local governance structures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613900","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":"Effects of bamboo plantations on soil physicochemical properties in the western highlands of Cameroon","authors":"Gilles Rolin Ananfack Kenfack,&nbsp;Joseph Guepi Vounang Zetekouang,&nbsp;Marie Louise Avana Tientcheu,&nbsp;Temgoua Emile","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01582-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01582-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soil physicochemical properties are highly sensitive to land-use change in tropical Africa, yet the contribution of bamboo-dominated systems to soil fertility restoration remains insufficiently documented in Cameroon. This study evaluated the effects of bamboo-based land uses on soil properties in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Three land-use systems located within a pedologically homogeneous volcanic landscape were compared: Natural Bamboo Forest (BF), Bamboo-Based Agroforestry (BBA), and Conventional Agricultural Plots (AP). Eighteen composite soil samples were collected from three independent plots per land-use system at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). Physical and chemical properties were analyzed using standard laboratory methods, and land-use effects were tested by one-way analysis of variance conducted separately for each depth (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). At 0–20 cm, soil organic carbon (SOC) was significantly higher under BF (SOC = 4.65%) compared with BBA and AP. Exchangeable potassium also differed significantly among land uses at this depth, with the highest values recorded in BF (0.74 cmol kg⁻¹). In contrast, cation exchange capacity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus did not show significant land-use differences, although numerical trends generally favored bamboo systems. Soil pH remained slightly acidic (6.0–6.7) across all land uses, and available phosphorus was uniformly low (&lt; 12 mg kg⁻¹). Overall, natural bamboo forests are associated with improved surface soil organic matter and potassium cycling relative to conventional agriculture, while bamboo-based agroforestry systems provide intermediate benefits (BF &gt; BBA &gt; AP). These results highlight the potential of bamboo-based systems for surface soil restoration and underscore the need for multisite studies integrating biological indicators to strengthen inference across agroecological contexts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613752","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":"A snapshot of the current agroforestry organizational landscape in the United States focused on non-profit and university-based institutions","authors":"O. Romanova,&nbsp;M. Gold,&nbsp;K. Stubblefield,&nbsp;H. Hemmelgarn","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01600-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01600-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Although agroforestry organizations exist across the United States and their numbers appear to be increasing, available information about their presence and growth is largely anecdotal. The composition of the agroforestry organizational landscape in the US has not previously been described, and detailed, systematically collected data are not publicly available. This study aims to address this gap and explore the current distribution, qualities, and characteristics of agroforestry actors across the US. The study was conducted through a survey distributed across organizations identified as involved in agroforestry through existing network contacts and an open data search, focusing on those that extend beyond agroforestry farming practices alone. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were used to present the results and findings. This snapshot of the current agroforestry organizational landscape is depicted with 71 organizations who responded to our survey, including non-profit organizations (45%), university-based (24%), and for-profit (13%) organizations. The number of organizations involved in agroforestry has grown, especially in recent decades. Our findings showed agroforestry organizations present in 30 states, with the highest concentrations in the Midwest and Northeast regions. The non-profit sector plays an important role as a provider of full-time employment positions for agroforestry professionals, while government programs and foundations are major funders of agroforestry work. Funding was identified as both the key opportunity and the principal barrier to expanded agroforestry engagement. Key areas where organizations are focused include informal education, community building, exploration of alternative income opportunities for landowners/farmers, demonstration farms, and technical assistance. Among agroforestry practices, silvopasture is emphasized most among non-profits and university-based organizations, while alley cropping and forest farming are prioritized by for-profit, cooperatives, and coalitions. The results of this research present a cross-section of the current U.S. agroforestry organizational landscape, and they provide valuable baseline data for future research and policy directions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01600-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614025","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":"Climate resilient livestock-based agro-forestry systems in north east india: productivity, carbon dynamics and livelihood implications","authors":"Murali Arthanari Palanisamy,&nbsp;Rajib Das,&nbsp;Joy Kumar Dey,&nbsp;Kiruthika Rajamanickam,&nbsp;Mahamaya Banik,&nbsp;Ajit Kumar Mandal,&nbsp;Jitendra Kumar,&nbsp;Shatabhisa Sarkar,&nbsp;Mainak Ghosh,&nbsp;Prasanta Kumar Pathak,&nbsp;A. K. Mohanty","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01607-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01607-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>North East (NE) India, encompassing eight states across approximately 262,179 km², represents one of the world’s most biologically diverse and ecologically sensitive regions, straddling three globally recognised biodiversity hotspots. The region’s smallholder farming communities have long practiced intricate multi-species land use systems integrating trees, crops and livestock arrangements that are now attracting renewed scientific and policy interest for their potential to simultaneously deliver agricultural productivity, carbon sequestration and climate resilience. This review synthesises evidence from over 180 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports and grey literature sources spanning 1990–2024 to characterise climate resilient livestock-based agroforestry (CLBAF) systems across NE India, evaluate their biophysical and socioeconomic performance and assess their potential role in national and subnational climate commitments. Key findings indicate that, well managed CLBAF systems achieve Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) of 1.15–1.87, above-ground carbon stocks of 28–185 Mg C ha⁻¹ and total ecosystem carbon stocks of 46–275 Mg C ha⁻¹ depending on system type, age and management intensity. Net greenhouse gas (GHG) balances for mature CLBAF configurations indicate sequestration of 3–10 Mg CO₂e ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, contrasting with conventional cropland which operates as a net GHG source. Household income assessments reveal CLBAF practitioners earning 20–35% more than conventional farming counterparts, with important dietary diversity and food security co-benefits. Notwithstanding these advantages, critical structural barriers-including fragmented customary land tenure, market isolation, limited extension capacity and escalating human-wildlife conflict constrain broader adoption. The review concludes by proposing a five-pillar policy framework aligned with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the National Agroforestry Policy 2014 for scaling CLBAF transitions across the region.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613887","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":"Soil physical quality and organic carbon dynamics in low-input perennial rubber plantations across a chronosequence in the Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Luís Felipe Leite Sabino de Oliveira,&nbsp;Lucas Eduardo de Oliveira,&nbsp;Taísa Cristina Tinoco,&nbsp;Fernando Antônio de Souza,&nbsp;Hamilton César de Oliveira Charlo,&nbsp;Leonardo Carneiro Morgado,&nbsp;Arcângelo Loss,&nbsp;Dinamar Márcia da Silva Vieira,&nbsp;José Luiz Rodrigues Torres","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01602-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01602-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluated the temporal dynamics of soil physical quality and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in <i>Hevea brasiliensis</i> plantations of different ages established on degraded sandy Oxisols in the Brazilian Cerrado under low-input management, focusing on the relationships between seasonal litter inputs, soil structural development, and SOC accumulation over time. Three rubber plantations established in 2006 (S2006), 2007 (S2007), and 2009 (S2009), together with a reference native forest stand (NF), were evaluated at soil depths of 0.00–0.40 m. After the first two years following establishment, no additional fertilization or herbicide applications were performed. Soil physical attributes, aggregation indices, total organic carbon (TOC), and SOC stocks were determined. Older plantations exhibited lower penetration resistance, higher porosity, and improved soil aggregation, indicating progressive structural recovery over time. The aggregation index (AGRI) was more sensitive than the aggregate stability index (ASI) in detecting structural changes. The oldest plantation (S2006) presented higher TOC and SOC stocks than the adjacent native forest reference stand evaluated in this chronosequence, indicating substantial carbon accumulation under long-term low-input management. Low-input rubber plantations promoted significant improvements in soil physical quality and SOC accumulation in sandy Oxisols of the Brazilian Cerrado. These findings highlight the importance of seasonal litter deposition and natural nutrient cycling in supporting long-term soil structural development. Under the conditions evaluated in this chronosequence, the oldest plantation accumulated SOC stocks higher than those observed in the reference native forest stand, demonstrating the potential of low-input perennial rubber plantations to contribute to soil restoration and carbon accumulation in degraded tropical soils.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01602-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613845","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":"Biological nitrogen fixation by Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC stands in the Brazilian semi-arid region","authors":"Edilandia Farias Dantas,&nbsp;Everardo Valadares de Sá Barretto Sampaio,&nbsp;Jéssica Rafaella de Sousa Oliveira,&nbsp;Augusto Cesar de Arruda Santana,&nbsp;Alesson Gabriel Xavier da Hora,&nbsp;Leandro Reis Costa Santos,&nbsp;Juscélia da Silva Ferreira,&nbsp;Plínio Barbosa de Camargo,&nbsp;Ana Dolores Santiago de Freitas","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01605-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01605-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Prosopis juliflora</i> was introduced to the Brazilian semi-arid region as a forage and firewood plant and spontaneously dispersed to valley areas and now forms almost pure stands in more than 500,000 ha of the region. Since eradication is not being considered, studies on the advantages and disadvantages are necessary. One of the potential advantages is the capability of symbiotically fixing atmospheric N₂. We determined <i>P. juliflora</i> N fixation in six valley areas of Pernambuco state, Brazil. In each area, leaf and wood biomasses were estimated, N concentrations and amounts determined and N fixation in leaves estimated by the ¹⁵N technique. Aboveground and leaf biomasses averaged 44.1 Mg ha⁻¹, and 2.1 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. The nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) in the leaves averaged 38.8%, corresponding to 24.2 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of N fixation. An indirect rough estimation of the average N stock derived from fixation in the woody parts was based on the assumption that the ¹⁵N values in the leaves and wood in the same plant was equal, and amounted to 74.1 kg ha⁻¹ Considering the fixed N in the leaves as a stock, adding the estimated N stock in the wood, and extrapolating for the 113 thousand hectares covered by <i>P. juliflora</i> in Pernambuco, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte states would be equivalent to a stock of 11.1 Gg of N. Despite being a crude estimate, it indicates that <i>P. juliflora</i> can potentially contribute to a significant amount of fixed N in the plant-soil system in the Brazilian Northeast region.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01605-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148613846","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":"Response of perennial ryegrass, plantain, and white clover to shade in agroforestry and agrivoltaics systems","authors":"Adolfo Rosati,&nbsp;Haley Kirschten,&nbsp;Maggie Graham,&nbsp;Thomas M. R. Maxwell,&nbsp;Azad Dazaea,&nbsp;Serkan Ates","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01606-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01606-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As global demand for food and renewable energy drives the expansion of dual-purpose land-management systems, such as agroforestry and agrivoltaics, understanding understory crop performance is critical. The spectral composition of the radiation transmitted through photovoltaic (PV) panels differs significantly from that of a green canopy. This can affect plant photomorphogenesis and performance. This study investigated the morphological responses of three forage species to these distinct shade environments. Spectral measurements confirmed that PV panels act as neutral absorbers-reflectors, maintaining a Red/Far-Red ratio (R/FR) similar to full sun (i.e., R/FR &gt; 1) and potentially increasing the blue (B) radiation fraction. In contrast, hazel (<i>Corylus avellana</i> L.) canopy shade dramatically reduced the R/FR and B/FR ratios, providing classic spectral “shade signals” for plants. We hypothesized that the lack of such signals under PV panels might fail to induce at least some of the morphological changes induced by shade. However, all species exhibited the same pronounced morphological changes in PV shade, including significantly increased specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR), and plant height, and decreased root/shoot ratio. This suggests that low absolute radiation intensities can override “sunny” spectral signals. Although all species reacted to shade similarly in terms of SLA, LAR, plant height, and root/shoot ratio, the partitioning of dry mass into the different plant organs differed due to different plant architecture among species. For instance, in perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.) and plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) there is no leaf petiole and the proportion of leaves in the harvestable part did not decrease in shade. In white clover (<i>Trifolium repens</i> L.), instead, shade increased petiole length and thus increased the proportion of petiole dry mass in the harvestable part (i.e., leaves and petioles).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01606-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148466164","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}