Agroforestry Systems最新文献

{"title":"Effects of tree lucerne adoption on livestock endowment in South Wollo, Ethiopia","authors":"Asmiro Abeje Fikadu,&nbsp;Degenet Shifraw Baue,&nbsp;Girma Gezimu Gebre,&nbsp;Sieber Stefan","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01690-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01690-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Livestock production has a crucial role for smallholder livelihoods in Ethiopia but remains constrained by chronic feed shortages. Tree lucerne has been promoted as a climate-resilient forage technology, yet evidence on its adoption and effects on livestock endowment remains limited. This study examines the determinants of tree lucerne adoption and its effects on livestock endowment using 400 smallholder farmers. We used an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model to address endogeneity arising from non-random adoption decisions, complemented by a Double Machine Learning (DML) estimator. The adoption model shows that distance to plots suitable for tree-lucerne establishment, family size, landholding size, frequency of extension contacts, access to training, peer effects through farmers’ association membership, and access to information significantly influence farmers’ adoption decisions. The ESR results indicate that adopters increase their livestock endowments by about 28.1% compared to non-adopters. Conversely, the average treatment effect on the untreated (ATU) suggests that current non-adopters could increase their livestock endowment by about 65.0% if they adopted tree lucerne. The larger ATU implies substantial unrealized gains among non-adopting households. The DML estimates confirm a positive and statistically significant effect of tree lucerne adoption on livestock endowment, supporting the robustness of the ESR findings. The results suggest that low adoption is more likely associated with adoption constraints than low economic returns. Policy efforts should strengthen extension services, farmer training, access to information, and plot-targeted promotional strategies to increase adoption of tree lucerne and support sustainable livestock development in mixed crop-livestock farming systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01690-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132555","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":"Ecophysiological responses and yield of Ilex paraguariensis crops to 12-year-old shelter trees","authors":"Gortari Fermin,&nbsp;Bulfe Nardia,&nbsp;Pinazo Martín Alcides,&nbsp;Graciano Corina","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01695-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01695-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Yerba-mate is a tree native to the Atlantic Forest in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, where all commercial plantations are concentrated. While most of these crops are monocultures, yerba-mate grows naturally in multi-strata rainforests, where air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and relative humidity are buffered. Monocultures of yerba mate expose the plants to abiotic stresses, which has an adverse effect on yields. Measurements were carried out in an experiment in which five species of shelter trees were planted over a yerba mate monoculture 12 years ago: <i>Grevillea robusta</i>, <i>Toona ciliata</i>, <i>Parapiptadenia rigida</i>, <i>Peltophorum dubium</i> and <i>Cordia trichotoma</i>. We evaluated yerba mate yield and ecophysiological variables related to light and water use in response to the canopy shelter during the seasons. The shelter trees (55–70 trees per hectare) significantly and consistently reduced PAR, and leaf size was consistently larger in treatments with shelter trees than in the monoculture. While there were no differences in chlorophyll content, photosystem II electron transport rate and stomatal conductance were higher in the monoculture than under the shelter trees. Photosystem II efficiency was consistently lower in the monoculture, with the difference compared to the other treatments being greater in summer due to the higher PAR in the monoculture. The lowest yerba-mate yield was obtained in monoculture. Yerba-mate plants in monocultures suffer environmental stress, which is alleviated when other trees are interplanted. Therefore, yerba-mate yields could be higher under low shelter tree density, regardless of species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132455","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":"Plant diversity and soil seed bank composition in scattered tree-dominated farmlands, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"Tirusew Walle,&nbsp;Temie Alehegn,&nbsp;Assefa Deginew,&nbsp;Mekdes Ourge,&nbsp;Yishak Yiferu,&nbsp;Wassie Asmamaw,&nbsp;Anteneh Asfaw,&nbsp;Hamid Mekonenn","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01694-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01694-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In parkland agroforestry, assessing the soil seed bank (SSB) provides valuable insights into the potential for natural regeneration and recovery of plant communities following disturbance. This study evaluated the composition, spatial distribution, and regenerative potential of SSB beneath and outside the canopies of <i>Acacia tortilis</i>, <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i>, and <i>Cordia africana</i> in Southern Ethiopia. Standing understory vegetation was evaluated using 144 quadrats (1 m × 1 m), while soil samples were extracted from 0 to 20 cm and 20 to 40 cm depths for controlled seedling emergence trials. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that seed attributes were significantly governed by a three-way interaction between tree species, canopy zone, and soil depth. Propagule pools were intensely canopy-centric; mean seed densities beneath over-story covers (28.13 seeds m⁻²) more than doubled those of open outside matrices (12.65 seeds m⁻²), with <i>A. tortilis</i> driving the highest accumulations. Vertically, severe downward attenuation occurred, with topsoil (0–20 cm) maintaining significantly higher mean densities (32.53 seeds m⁻²) than subsoils (8.33 seeds m⁻²). Out of 28 germinated species across 13 families, the SSB was overwhelmingly dominated by opportunistic herbs (46.43%) and grasses (39.29%), whereas native woody species were severely suppressed (14.29%). Furthermore, Jaccard’s index revealed a weak compositional match between the subterranean core and standing vegetation. The scarcity of woody propagules suggests that the soil seed bank alone may be insufficient for spontaneous woodland recovery in managed farmlands, particularly given that this study was conducted at a single location and evaluated only germinable seeds. Consequently, complementary active restoration strategies, such as enrichment planting and direct seeding, should be considered to support regional biodiversity and long-term agroforestry productivity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01694-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149131983","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":"Productivity, litter dynamics and soil fertility in agroforestry systems with coconut and cupuassu trees in eastern amazon","authors":"Paulo Manoel Pontes Lins,&nbsp;Cassio Rafael Costa dos Santos,&nbsp;Eric Victor de Oliveira Ferreira,&nbsp;Ismael de Jesus Matos Viégas","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01682-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01682-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry systems (AFS) are sustainable land use strategies that promote productivity and environmental conservation. The intercropping of coconut palm (<i>Cocos nucifera</i> L.) and five progenies of cupuassu trees [<i>Theobroma grandiflorum</i> (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum.] was evaluated in terms of soil fertility, litter dynamics, and species productivity in Mojú, PA, Brazil. The experiment was implemented in randomized blocks with five treatments (AFS cultivated with cupuassu progenies 174, 186, 215, 286, and Tp) and four replicates. For some variables, these treatments were also compared to a native forest (FOR) and a pasture (PAS). Soil fertility variables at different depths, litterfall and stock, growth, and fruit production were evaluated using ANOVA (F-Test), mean comparison tests (Tukey test for variables involving the five experimental treatments only, and Fisher’s LSD tests, for variables involving the further areas besides the experimental treatments), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were applied to these data. Treatments 174, 286, and Tp showed the best fertility results, with pH up to 4.7, exchangeable Ca above 23 mmol_c dm⁻³, and BS above 50% in the 0–10 cm layer. FOR had lower pH (3.5) and higher Al saturation (Al_sat = 79.5%). Litterfall showed greater accumulation in the dry season. Genotype 215 yielded higher fruits weight (102.5+7.0 kg ha⁻¹), and pulp weights (40.5+3.2 kg ha⁻¹), while 186 had more fruits per plant. Intercropping with cupuassu trees did not negatively affect the coconut trees and promoted maintenance of soil fertility, especially pH, SOM, P, exchangeable Ca and BS, compared to FOR and PAS. The results demonstrate that different cupuassu progenies offer different benefits, such as greater productivity or more positive impacts on soil fertility, which might be complementary to each other. Therefore, using progenies with these complementary attributes in the same planting with coconut trees can enhance the benefits of AFS.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01682-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132098","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":"Solum depth regulates root-mediated plant–soil feedback in tropical karst agroforestry systems","authors":"Danny Dwi Saputra,&nbsp;Rika Ratna Sari,&nbsp;Syifa Azzahra,&nbsp;Nanda Ardiansyah,&nbsp;Muhammad Shulton Cahaya Ramadhan,&nbsp;Rizki Maulana Ishaq,&nbsp;Syahrul Kurniawan,&nbsp;Meine van Noordwijk","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01685-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01685-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate variability intensifies soil degradation risks in tropical karst landscapes characterized by a shallow solum, limited water storage, and rapid subsurface drainage. Agroforestry is widely promoted as a climate-resilient land-use strategy, yet its effectiveness under pedologically constrained karst conditions remains poorly quantified. This study assessed the effects of land-use system (LUS), solum depth, and their interactions on fine-root traits and soil physical, chemical, and hydrological properties across sugarcane monoculture (M), coffee-based simple agroforestry (SAF), and coffee-based complex agroforestry (CAF). The study included 24 plots representing three LUS and two solum categories: deep (&gt; 50 cm) and shallow (30–50 cm); with four replicate plots per combination. Soil properties and fine-root traits were assessed across three soil layers (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm). Across solum categories, fine-root length density in SAF and CAF was respectively 2.2 and 1.7 times that in sugarcane monoculture, while fine-root dry mass density was approximately 5.5 and 2 times greater, respectively. Aggregate stability was approximately 1.43 and 1.51 times greater in SAF and CAF than in monoculture, respectively. Specific root length was approximately 2.7 greater in deep than shallow solum. Infiltration showed a significant LUS × solum interaction, with the highest rate observed under CAF in deep solum (88 cm h⁻¹), approximately 2.4 times that under CAF in shallow solum (36 cm h⁻¹). In comparison, infiltration under sugarcane monoculture were 31 and 44 cm h⁻¹ in deep and shallow solum, respectively. Both soil organic carbon dan C_org/C_ref showed significant solum effect and LUS × solum interactions, indicating that land-use-related carbon pattern depended on solum context. The first two principal components explained 43.4% of total variance and indicated covariation among fine-root traits, carbon-related properties, aggregate stability and hydrological indicators, although substantial overlap remained among LUS-solum groups. These findings indicate agroforestry was associated with greater fine-root development and aggregate stability, while solum depth conditioned several carbon and hydrological responses. Accounting for pedological constraints is therefore essential when designing agroforestry interventions for marginal karst landscapes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132093","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":"Sheep-feeding practices and factors associated with fodder-tree integration in Northern Benin (West Africa)","authors":"Rachidi Idrissou,&nbsp;Yaya Idrissou,&nbsp;Alassan S. Assani,&nbsp;Ibrahim T. Alkoiret","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01684-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01684-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Feed availability remains a major factor limiting animal productivity in sheep production systems in West Africa, especially during the dry season. This study analyzed sheep-feeding practices and examined factors associated with herders’ integration of fodder trees into sheep feeding in northern Benin. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 240 herders from six villages across three municipalities of the Borgou Department: N’Dali, Parakou, and Tchaourou. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics, complemented by a binary logistic regression model. Results revealed marked seasonal complementarity in feeding practices: natural pastures were used by more than 93% of herders during the rainy season. Fodder-tree integration was reported by 123 of the 240 herders (51.3%) and differed significantly between municipalities. All herders classified as fodder-tree users reported using these resources during the dry season. The hot dry season was the most frequently reported period of forage shortage. Among fodder-tree users, the most commonly used species were <i>Ficus nymphaeifolia, Mangifera indica, Khaya senegalensis, and Afzelia africana</i>, mainly harvested through pruning and cutting. Herders generally perceived fodder trees as beneficial for animal growth, animal health, and feed-cost reduction, but reported collection distance, limited resource availability, and access difficulties as major constraints. Schooling (OR = 4.560; 95% CI 2.152–9.661), membership in a herder organization (OR = 5.112; 95% CI 1.820–14.360), proximity to a forest (OR = 3.873; 95% CI 1.595–9.434), household size (OR = 1.342; 95% CI 1.100–1.638), and farm area (OR = 1.521; 95% CI 1.165–1.987) were positively associated with fodder-tree integration. These findings highlight the importance of considering herders’ socioeconomic, organizational, farm-level, and spatial characteristics when developing strategies for the sustainable use of fodder-tree resources.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01684-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132099","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":"An observational assessment of soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes under contrasting land-use systems in Eastern Maranhão, Brazil","authors":"Ivana Tito Sousa,&nbsp;Luiz Fernando Carvalho Leite,&nbsp;Maria Laiane do Nascimento Silva,&nbsp;José Henrique Soares Paiva,&nbsp;Thaís Santiago de Sousa,&nbsp;Henrique Antunes de Souza,&nbsp;José Oscar Lustosa de Oliveira Júnior,&nbsp;Flávio Fávaro Blanco,&nbsp;Aderson Soares de Andrade Júnior,&nbsp;Edvaldo Sagrilo","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01687-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01687-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The adoption of integrated crop–livestock production systems, together with practices such as crop rotation, crop succession, and intercropping, has increased the need for integrated approaches to assess soil health. This study evaluated soil health under contrasting land-use systems in the Cerrado region of Maranhão, Brazil. The study was conducted in 2024 at Barbosa Farm (Brejo, Maranhão), comparing integrated crop–livestock (ICL), integrated livestock–forestry (ILF), no-tillage (NT), managed pasture (MP), and native vegetation (NV). Soil samples were collected from the 0–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and 0.20–0.30 m layers to determine soil bulk density (<span>(D_{b})</span>), soil pH, available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), and total organic carbon (TOC). Soil health was assessed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), which integrates physical, chemical, and biological indicators into standardized indices. Native vegetation exhibited the lowest soil pH (4.28 in the 0–0.10 m layer), whereas ICL showed the highest value (5.42). NT presented the highest concentrations of available P and K (<span>(46.94)</span> and <span>(31.28{text{ mg dm}}^{ - 3})</span>, respectively). ILF had the highest TOC concentration (<span>(24.3{text{ g kg}}^{ - 1})</span> in the 0–0.10 m layer) and the greatest carbon stock (<span>(97.2{text{ Mg ha}}^{ - 1})</span> in the 0–0.30 m profile). According to SMAF, ILF (0.99) and NT (0.98) achieved the highest biological indicator scores in the surface layer, whereas ICL (0.72) and NT (0.73) showed the highest Soil Health Index values at the 0.10–0.20 m depth. Although constrained to an observational framework within commercial fields in Brejo, Maranhão, these results indicate that integrated systems and no-tillage better maintained soil health than managed pasture in sandy Cerrado soils.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01687-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132295","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":"Correction: English farmers’ views on agroforestry and agroforestry scheme characteristics: a qualitative analysis of drivers and facilitators of engagement","authors":"Beth Clark,&nbsp;Francisco J. Areal,&nbsp;Kyrikaki Remoundou,&nbsp;Shan Jin,&nbsp;Yit Arn Teh,&nbsp;Rao Fu,&nbsp;Martin Lukac ,&nbsp;Lynn J. Frewer","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01628-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01628-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-026-01628-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132406","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":"Carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and carbon-credit potential in Himalayan high-altitude orchard agroforestry systems","authors":"Shiekh Marifatul Haq,&nbsp;Ashutosh Kumar,&nbsp;Muhammad Waheed,&nbsp;Aadil Abdullah Khoja,&nbsp;Mudasir Ahmad Bhat,&nbsp;Cléber Rodrigo Souza,&nbsp;Rainer W. Bussmann","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01686-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01686-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Horticultural landscapes have an important role in carbon sequestration and livelihood security, increasing both environmental and socioeconomic resilience in mountain landscapes. Despite their multifunctional nature and diverse ecosystem services, these benefits remain poorly quantified and documented, particularly across the Himalayan Highlands. This work provides the first thorough assessment of three major high-altitude horticultural orchard systems in the Himalaya, examining variation in carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and carbon-credit potential among them. Our findings showed that Apple horticulture system exhibited the highest diversity of species (Shannon diversity index, 1.24 ± 0.39), whereas Walnut horticulture stored highest CO₂-Equivalent Stocks (268.53 ± 71.64 Mg C/ha). Diversity indices were positively correlated with tree density (r = 0.72, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) but negatively associated with biomass-related parameters such as DBH, basal area, and total carbon stock (r = − 0.64 to – 0.71, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), indicating a trade-off between species diversity and carbon accumulation. Based on the estimated CO₂-equivalent values, the average carbon value across the horticultural systems was approximately US$3,844 per hectare. <i>Juglans regia</i> was the most significant contributor accounting for 52% of total carbon stock, followed by <i>Malus domestica.</i> These findings demonstrate that Himalayan horticultural systems can simultaneously enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and rural income diversification. They also provide opportunities for effective nature-based solutions and alignment of climate policies and carbon markets with the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, such systems can contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132294","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":"Assessing population structure, socio-economic and ecological role of Vitellaria nilotica (shea tree) in Gambella region, South Western Ethiopia","authors":"Jibril kedir","doi":"10.1007/s10457-026-01647-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-026-01647-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Vitellaria nilotica</i> is an indigenous multipurpose tree species that plays a vital role in the Gambella region. However, increasing anthropogenic disturbance and limited information on population structure, socio-economic, and ecological benefits have constrained its sustainable management and conservation. This study aims to assess the population structure and the socio-economic and ecological benefits of the shea tree in southwestern Ethiopia. Systematically established 48 main plots, each measuring 20 × 20 m, to gather ecological data. Additionally, researchers collected socio-economic data from 90 randomly selected households through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Data analysis involved one-way ANOVA, descriptive statistics, and chi-square tests. The results showed that the diameter class distribution of <i>Vitellaria nilotica</i> species in the study area reflected an inverted bell shape. <i>Vitellaria nilotica</i> contributed a high IVI in the study area. Sex, marital status, land size, and number of households were significant influences on the collection of shea trees. The local community in the study area used the product of the shea tree for medicine and livelihood. The study results suggested that even though <i>Vitellaria nilotica</i> continues to have ecological and socioeconomic value, its sustainability in the future calls for an integrated conservation approach involving natural regeneration, sustainable harvesting, and the involvement of communities. To address the decline in shea tree production, we must implement conservation strategies tailored to land use. Enhancing local communities’ awareness of sustainable shea tree harvesting will support these strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"100 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132478","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}