Agroforestry Systems最新文献

{"title":"Microbial biomass carbon distribution under agroforestry practices and soil depth variations in Southern Ethiopia","authors":"Nebiyou Masebo,&nbsp;Emiru Birhane,&nbsp;Serekebirhan Takele,&nbsp;Juan J. Lucena,&nbsp;Pérez-Sanz Araceli,&nbsp;Felipe Yunta,&nbsp;Zerihun Belay,&nbsp;Agena Anjulo","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01133-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01133-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The land-use change from agroforestry (AF) to monoculture-based agriculture has the potential to change soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). The MBC has been used as an indicator of soil quality as well as to determine the microbial status of soil. The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of soil MBC across different agroforestry practices (AFPs) at two depths in southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from cropland/parkland, woodlots, home gardens, and trees on soil and water conservation-based agroforestry practices (AFPs). The MBC was determined using the difference in fumigated and non-fumigated extracted carbon contents. The MBC and soil microbial biomass quotient (MBQ) were significantly different among the different AFPs (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). The highest contents of MBC were reported from homegarden on topsoil (505.36 ± 12.45 mg kg⁻¹) and subsoil (401.88 ± 7.26 mg kg⁻¹) soil depths (topsoil = 0–30 cm, subsoil = 30–60 cm), followed by woodlot (topsoil: 464.37 ± 9.19 mg kg⁻¹) and (subsoil: 380.24 ± 6.88 mg kg⁻¹), while the lowest result was registered from the subsoil of the croplands (153.10 ± 46.44 mg kg⁻¹). The higher percentage of MBQ was recorded under the woodlots in topsoil layers (1.48%) and subsoil (1.37%), followed by homegarden (topsoil = 1.41%, subsoil = 1.25%), while the lowest was found under the cropland in subsoil (0.57%). The highest content of soil organic carbon was found under homegarden in topsoil (3.62%) and subsoil (3.23%) followed by woodlot (topsoil: 3.16%, subsoil: 2.87%) and trees on soil and water conservation structures (topsoil: 2.69%, subsoil: 2.51%), while the lowest value was registered under cropland/parkland AF practices (topsoil: 2.67%, subsoil: 2.46%). The distribution of MBC was significantly related to soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil pH in topsoil. Homegarden and woodlot AFPs were suitable for soil MBC improvement among the different AFPs studied, implying that tree-based systems are important for increasing of MBC and ecosystem stability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521725","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 perennial plant species diversity in relation to socioeconomic and environmental factors in central highlands of Ethiopia","authors":"Fikadu Yirga,&nbsp;Zebene Asfaw,&nbsp;Asmamaw Alemu,&nbsp;Zeleke Ewnetu,&nbsp;Demel Teketay","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01156-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01156-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry conserves biodiversity while providing various environmental and socioeconomic benefits, yet information on the link between plant diversity and environmental and socioeconomic factors is limited. This study examined how perennial plant species diversity and density related to socioeconomic and environmental variables under two selected agroforestry practices. The study was conducted in Tarmaber district of the central highlands of Ethiopia, using data from 122 plots across 64 households. The study used a linear mixed model to analyze the data. Fifty perennial plant species were identified, with 60% indigenous, 36% introduced, and the remaining 4% endemic. The mean values of Shannon diversity and richness in home gardens were 1.11±0.06 and 15.95±0.83, respectively, while in woodlots, these values were 0.05±0.009 and 12.44±0.38, respectively. The number of shrub individuals in home gardens was higher than that of trees, whereas the number of trees exceeded that of shrubs in woodlots. The linear mixed model revealed that household size, seedling access and soil fertility positively impacted species richness in home gardens, while education and age positively influenced in woodlots (<i>p &lt; 0.05</i>). Education positively influenced plant species diversity and density in both practices, while distance from market negatively affected stand density (<i>p &lt; 0.05</i>). Overall, both home gardens and woodlots contribute to biodiversity conservation, influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors. The findings of this study can aid in the conservation of agroforestry by considering both socioeconomic and environmental factors.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143513113","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":"Response of winter wheat yield components to the tree presence in a young alley-cropping system: What are the consequences for the soil mineral nitrogen content?","authors":"Malo Rufin,&nbsp;Caroline Choma,&nbsp;Hélène Desmyttere,&nbsp;Kasaina Sitraka Andrianarisoa","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01136-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01136-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We assessed the impacts of the tree presence on winter wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) yield components in a young alley-cropping focusing on the effects of tree canopy and its influence on soil mineral nitrogen. In 2019, 25-year-old small-leaved linden trees (<i>Tilia cordata</i> Mill.) with confined roots were transplanted within rows of one-year-old linden and willow trees (<i>Salix alba</i> L.) in alley crop and were compared with sole crop and sole tree plantation control plots at the Ramecourt alley-cropping experimental site in northern France. In 2023, the variability of wheat yield components and soil mineral N was analysed according to factors: tree canopy type, distance and orientation from the tree row, type of system and soil layer. Our results revealed that five-year-old trees had no significant impact on wheat yield or grain protein content. The canopy of old linden delayed the wheat maturity up to 3 m north of the tree row. The wheat spikes humidity measured twelve days before harvesting was negatively correlated with the total photosynthetic photon flux density under canopy (r = − 0.44; <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). The grains number per spike was the most significantly affected by the tree presence, especially 3 m from the old and the young linden to the north (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Young trees increased the soil ammonium nitrogen content in the topsoil and decreased the percentage of nitrate in the soil mineral nitrogen in all soil layers (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) via mechanisms that need to be better understood.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-025-01136-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143446469","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":"The potential of silvopasture in the mid-atlantic USA: insights from land managers on motivations, challenges, and production features","authors":"Sanjok Poudel,&nbsp;Kristine Ely,&nbsp;John Fike","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01145-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01145-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Silvopasture is an intentional integration of trees, livestock, and forages within a common land management unit. Despite the significant potential opportunity, silvopasture is not widely adopted by landowners in the mid-Atlantic U.S.A. Limited information exists on silvopasture establishment and its overall management in a real farming context. These case studies were conducted to observe and document various establishment and management approaches for silvopasture among early adopters in Virginia to provide practical information to other producers interested in developing these systems. A questionnaire was developed and four producers in different physiographic regions of Virginia were interviewed. All the producers interviewed manage beef cattle operations. A common motivation behind silvopasture adoption was the opportunity to utilize the shade within the system for livestock health and welfare benefits. In cases where silvopastures were thinned from existing timber stands, the ability to expand grazable land was also a strong motivator. Producers utilized different methods for establishing and managing silvopasture based on their available resources and expertise. Climate change was not a consideration for any producers interviewed in their decision to create or manage silvopasture on their farm. Limited access to information and resources on silvopasture during the early adoption stage was a common experience for all interviewees. Each participant felt that silvopasture has great aesthetic value and can increase biodiversity within the farm. All producers interviewed were interested in expanding the silvopasture land area on their farm but also described various constraints that may hinder their ability to do so.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-025-01145-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143446548","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":"Tree nutrition and productivity changes in mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) based agrisilvicultural system in the humid tropics","authors":"Vikas Kumar,&nbsp;T. K. Kunhamu,&nbsp;Anjali Tiwari","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01149-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01149-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examined the effects of different fertilizer levels on mahogany tree growth and intercrop yield productivity in a six-year-old plantation in Mala, Kerala, India, established in 2009 with a 2.5 × 2.5 m spacing. The trial was laid out in a split plot design in June 2014, with fertilizer levels as main plots and intercrops as subplots in three replications. The trial was repeated for two consecutive years (2014–2016). The various N, P, K fertilizer combinations applied were F₁- 0:0:0; F₂- 50:25:25; F₃- 100:50:50 and F₄- 150:75:75 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ N, P₂O₅ and K₂O. Tree growth in terms of height, diameter, basal area, and volume, showed a significant increase with rising fertilizer levels. The highest volume production was recorded under the highest fertilizer regimes (F4) (105.28 m³ ha⁻¹) which was approximately 135 per cent higher than the unfertilized control plot (F1: 44.84 m³ ha⁻¹). This clearly indicates that nutrient supplementation at younger ages can markedly increase tree productivity in mahogany. Yet another observation was observed complementarity between mahogany trees and herbaceous intercrops. The positive influence of fertilizer on the tree growth was also reflected in the intercrop yield. The yield reduction in mahogany intercropped plots was compensated by tree fertilization. In summary, this study highlights the rationale for fertilization at younger stages of mahogany growth, which may be desirable for enhancing combined productivity in intercropped scenarios.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423327","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":"Integrating farmers’ views, field soil erosion assessment, and pot experiments to evaluate different agroforestry systems in Timor-Leste","authors":"Marçal Gusmão,&nbsp;Zevacio Fernandes,&nbsp;Juvencio dos Santos,&nbsp;Archontoulis V. Sotirios,&nbsp;Kadambot H. M. Siddique","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01147-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01147-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Over 75% of subsistence farmers in rural Timor-Leste face challenges from unsustainable land use practices, particularly slash-and-burn farming on degraded steep slopes. These practices contribute to soil erosion, and poor crop yields, ultimately leading to land and environmental degradation and food insecurity. Recently, agroforestry projects have aimed to improve land productivity and farmers’ livelihoods, though their impact remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate these impacts through three research questions: (1) How do agroforestry interventions impact field crop performance and smallholder farmers’ livelihoods? (2) What is the extent of farmer adoption of these interventions? (3) What is the effect of agroforestry interventions on soil physical and chemical characteristics? The study was conducted at the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project site at Saraida, Quelicai, Baucau municipality, during the rainy season from December 2021 to April 2022. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 35 farmers involved in the project, alongside field assessments of soil erosion and pot experiments. The results showed that most farmers reported improved production and outcomes from growing trees and would like to replicate agroforestry systems, suggesting adoption likelihood due to the multiple benefits of agroforestry, including soil improvement, animal feed, fuelwood provision, and environmental and biodiversity sustainability. Measurements of soil loss and plant productivity confirmed the positive impact of agroforestry, reducing soil erosion by nearly 15 times compared to traditional fallow systems and improving crop growth and yields in both fallow and slash-and-mulch systems. This study provides essential baseline data and guidance for future farmland management in Timor-Leste.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423326","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":"Effect of high biaxial solar trackers on crop yield, application to different design simulations","authors":"Clémentine Inghels,&nbsp;Paul-Emile Noirot-Cosson,&nbsp;Tanguy Riou,&nbsp;Thomas Kichey,&nbsp;Annie Guiller","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01144-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01144-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The growing need in both producing renewable energy and food has led to the development of new systems such as agrivoltaic systems. Agrivoltaic systems, akin to agroforestry, integrate crop production in the understory with a photovoltaic overstory layer, casting spatial–temporal varying shades that can affect the yield of the understory crop by either improving or reducing crop growth underneath, depending on type of crop, pedoclimatic context, photovoltaic (PV) structure and its implementation design. Current studies on agrivoltaic arrays mainly evaluate global yield in areas under panels and in between panel and compare it to a control (ie. in full sun condition), and sometimes for various panels densities, but don’t consider shade gradients. The aim of this study was to assess field crops yields around high biaxial tracked PV installations, and correlate them with the spatial variations of shade, microclimate and soil parameters. This pattern was then used to simulate the crop yields under different designs. Two species of crops (wheat and maize) were monitored in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with a total of 44 trackers over 18 sites located in Western France. Received radiation (RR) appeared as the most impacting variable for both yield and biomass. Yields and biomass linearly decreased with decreasing RR, up to 45% and 40% respectively with a 50% RR decrease. However, relative maize biomass did not decrease much in 2022, probably due to an exceptionally hot summer. The simulated designs had Ground Coverage Ratios between 5 and 12% and induced limited global losses for both crops. Only the highest panel density with a Ground Coverage Ratio of 12% led to losses slightly greater than 10%.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423295","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":"Carbon stocks, technological development, and milk yields of dairy cattle silvopastoral production systems in the Andean-amazon region of Colombia","authors":"Henry Mavisoy,&nbsp;Edwin Castro Rincón,&nbsp;Adrian Rolando Riascos Vallejos,&nbsp;Juan Pablo Narváez-Herrera,&nbsp;Lorieth Rosas,&nbsp;Adriana del Socorro Guerra Acosta,&nbsp;Adrián Antonio Riascos Salcedo,&nbsp;Disney Magali Aguillon Alban,&nbsp;Carlos Chingal,&nbsp;André M. de Almeida,&nbsp;David Fangueiro","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01151-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01151-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research aimed to assess carbon (C) stocks (living biomass, soil and detritus) in silvopastoral systems (SPS), the C density in living biomass (CLB) at the farm level, technological adoption and milk yields in an integrated fashion in small dairy farms in the Andean-Amazon region of Colombia. Technological adoption was assessed on a scale of 0 to 100% across 26 points. Milk yields from the top 10% highest-yielding farms were used for gap analysis. The lactation period and weaning age were considered as herd management variables. The study included 30 farms classified as high, medium or low SPS coverage. The average farm size was 9.1 ± 0.8 ha⁻¹ where live fences (LF) and woodlots (WL) were the main SPS. The total C were 152.0 ± 13.8 Mg·ha-¹, 152.2 ± 10.3 Mg·ha-¹, and 73.2 ± 4.4 Mg·ha-¹ in WL, LF and pastures. Farms with high SPS coverage (10.8 ± 1.1%) presented a CLB density of 8.6 ± 2.0 Mg·ha⁻¹, 3.4 and 43 times higher than those with medium and low coverage, respectively. Average milk yield was 3190.1 ± 237.5 kg fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹, with the top 10% of farms having 6056.7 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Farms with low SPS coverage had the smallest yield gap (1221.4 ± 290 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹ yr⁻¹) but also a lower average yield (2883.0 ± 290 kg·FPCM·cow⁻¹·yr⁻¹). The farms averaged 48.9 ± 2.1% in the technological adoption level, 271.5 ± 8.4 days of lactation period, and 129.3 ± 17.8 days of weaning age, with no significant differences across SPS levels. An integrated approach to jointly increase technology adoption, herd management, and the enhancement of SPS coverage at the farm level can reduce the yield gap while enhancing C stocks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-025-01151-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423294","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":"Can tree leaves be an alternative source of feed for dairy ruminants?","authors":"Serena Bonizzi,&nbsp;Stefania Colombini,&nbsp;Martina Pavesi,&nbsp;Maddalena Zucali,&nbsp;Osvaldo Failla,&nbsp;Federico Dragoni,&nbsp;Barbara Amon,&nbsp;Giorgio Ragaglini,&nbsp;Anna Sandrucci","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01150-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01150-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The importance of agroforestry systems is increasing as they promote sustainable agricultural practices to address climate change and food security. The study aimed to assess the potential of tree species as feed ingredients for dairy ruminants. Leaves from five tree species—<i>Fraxinus excelsior</i> L. (common ash), <i>Morus nigra</i> L. (black mulberry), <i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> L. (locust tree), <i>Salix babylonica</i> L. (weeping willow) and <i>U. minor</i> Mill. (field elm)—were sampled in three different times in spring–summer season 2023 on a farm in Northern Italy. Proximate composition, analyses along with in vitro analyses, were conducted to determine net energy of lactation (NE_L) by gas production and fibre digestibility (NDFD). Results found wide variability among species for chemical and nutritive value. Fibre content (% DM) was highest in <i>U. minor</i> (57.2) and lowest in <i>M. nigra</i> (34.5), whereas crude protein (% DM) was highest in <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> (22.4), followed by <i>S. babylonica</i> and <i>M. nigra</i> (20.3, on average), <i>U. minor</i> (15.1) and <i>F. excelsior</i> (14.0). <i>Morus nigra</i> had the highest NDFD (75.3%) and NE_L (5.66 MJ/kg DM). Intermediate NE_L values were recorded for <i>F. excelsior</i> and <i>S. babylonica</i> (4.50 MJ/kg DM, on average), the lowest values in <i>U. minor</i> and <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> (3.90 MJ/kg DM, on average). The study indicated that most of the examined tree species can be used as dietary supplements due to their nutritional properties as they maintain their quality throughout the growing season. <i>Morus nigra</i> emerges as the most promising species due to its superior nutritive value.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10457-025-01150-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423303","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":"Synergies and trade-offs between robusta yield, carbon stocks and biodiversity across coffee systems in the DR Congo","authors":"Ieben Broeckhoven,&nbsp;Jonas Depecker,&nbsp;Trésor K. Muliwambene,&nbsp;Olivier Honnay,&nbsp;Roel Merckx,&nbsp;Bruno Verbist","doi":"10.1007/s10457-025-01140-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10457-025-01140-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rapid decline of tropical rainforests, particularly in the Congo Basin, is predominantly driven by small-scale subsistence agricultural expansion. Tropical agroforestry, particularly coffee agroforestry, is seen as a potential way to balance agricultural productivity with biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, despite some possible trade-offs. However, substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding these trade-offs within and across coffee systems, especially in Africa. Here, we used a stratified random sampling design and general additive models to examine the relationship between yield, biodiversity, and carbon stocks in four coffee systems in the DR Congo (monocultures, cultivated agroforestry, wild agroforestry, and forest coffee) based on 79 inventoried plots. Our results demonstrate that coffee yields in cultivated agroforestry systems are not significantly different from monocultures, in contrast to lower yields in wild coffee agroforestry due to excessive shading (&gt; 50%). Our study also shows the irreplaceable value of forest coffee systems in terms of biodiversity and carbon sequestration, suggesting that monoculture and agroforestry systems cannot serve as direct substitutes. Forest coffee systems contain three times more total organic carbon (TOC) than the agroforestry systems, which in turn contain almost double the amount of TOC as the coffee monocultures. Our findings revealed a steep decline in woody species diversity, including large changes in community composition, and carbon stocks from forest coffee to agroforestry, with comparatively smaller reductions from agroforestry to monocultures. On the one hand, our study identified convex relationships between woody species diversity and robusta coffee yield, as well as between carbon stocks and robusta yield. On the other hand, synergies are found between carbon stocks and woody plant diversity. One can thus say that coffee agroforestry systems allow the preservation of part of the biodiversity and carbon stocks while also supporting farmer’s livelihood. However, applying EUDR guidelines may hinder the adoption of these agroforestry systems due to the regulation’s inherent binary classification of forest versus non-forest.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7610,"journal":{"name":"Agroforestry Systems","volume":"99 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423011","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}