User:Frienzsoil/sandbox

Benefits
Agroforestry systems can be advantageous over conventional agricultural, and forest production methods. They can offer increased productivity, economic benefits, and more diversity in the ecological goods and services provided. (An example of this was seen in trying to conserve Milicia excelsa.)

Depending upon the application, positive impacts of agroforestry comprise different topics.

Biodiversity
Biodiversity in agroforestry systems is typically higher than in conventional agricultural systems. With two or more interacting plant species in a given land area, it creates a more complex habitat that can support a wider variety of birds, insects, and other animals. Frienzsoil (talk) 22:36, 3 December 2017 (UTC)Agroforestry is important for biodiversity for different reasons. It provides more diverse habitat than a conventional agricultural system. Tropical bat and bird diversity for instance can be comparably high to the diversity in natural forests. Although agroforestry systems do not provide as many floristic species as forests and do not show the same canopy height, they still provide food and nesting possibilities. However it has to be considered, that these systems can not replace a natural forest and have to be managed wisely. A further contribution to biodiversity is that the germplasm of sensitive species can be preserved. And as there is no regular clearing like in conventional agricultural systems, habitats are more consisting. Furthermore agroforestry systems can serve as corridors between habitats, for instance forests. Agroforestry also helps to conserve biodiversity by having positive influence on other ecosystem services. Some are mentioned below.

Soil and plant growth
Depleted soils can be prevented from soil erosion due to Frienzsoil (talk) 22:36, 3 December 2017 (UTC)ground cover plants such as naturally growing grasses of agroforestry systems helping to stabilise the soil as they increase soil cover compared to short cycle cropping systems. Soil cover is a crucial factor in preventing erosion. Frienzsoil (talk) 22:36, 3 December 2017 (UTC)Cleaner water through reduced nutrient and soil runoff can be a further advantage of agroforestry systems. The runoff can be reduced by decreasing its velocity and increasing the infiltration into the soil in an established agroforestry system. Compared to row cropped fields the uptake of nutrients can be higher and thus result in a reduction of nutrient loss into streams.

Frienzsoil (talk) 22:36, 3 December 2017 (UTC)

Contribution to sustainable agricultural systems

 * Reducing poverty through increased production of wood and other tree products for home consumption and sale
 * Contributing to food security by restoring the soil fertility for food crops
 * Multifunctional site use i.e. crop production and animal grazing.
 * Countering global warming and the risk of hunger by increasing the number of drought-resistant trees and the subsequent production of fruits, nuts and edible oils
 * Reducing deforestation and pressure on woodlands by providing farm-grown fuelwood
 * Reducing or eliminating the need for toxic chemicals (insecticides, herbicides, etc.)
 * Through more diverse farm outputs, improved human nutrition
 * In situations where people have limited access to mainstream medicines, providing growing space for medicinal plants

Further advantages concerning plant growth:
 * Bioremediation
 * Typically more drought resistant.
 * Increased crop stability

Frienzsoil (talk) 22:36, 3 December 2017 (UTC)

Other environmental goals
The potential of carbon sequestration is discussed as an important ecosystem service. Trees in agroforestry systems, like in new forests, can regain some of the carbon that was lost by cutting existing forests but not completely replace them. However, they provide additional food and products to people. The rotation age and the use of the resulting products are important factors contributing to the amount and duration of sequestered carbon. Agroforestry systems can offset deforestation of primary forests as they reduce pressure on the latter by providing some of the products needed from a forest.

Further advantageous characteristics of agroforestry systems:
 * Odour, dust, and noise reduction
 * Green space and visual aesthetics
 * Enhancement or maintenance of wildlife habitat