Agroforestry research and development in southern Africa during the 1990s: Review and challenges ahead

In light of the large number of empirical studies of agroforestry adoption published during the last decade, we believe it is time to take stock and identify general determinants of agroforestry adoption. In reviewing 120 articles on adoption of agricultural and forestry technology by small holders, we find five categories of factors that explain technology adoption within an economic framework: preferences, resource endowments, market incentives, biophysical factors, and risk and uncertainty. By selecting only empirical analyses that focus on agroforestry and related investments, we narrow our list down to 32 studies primarily from tropical areas. We apply vote-counting based meta-analysis to these studies and evaluate the inclusion and significance of the five adoption factors. Our analysis shows that preferences and resource endowments are the factors most often included in studies. However, adoption behavior is most likely to be significantly influenced by risk, biophysical, and resource factors. In our conclusion, we discuss specific recommendations for the next generation of adoption studies and meta-analyses that include considering a fuller menu of variables, reporting key statistics and marginal probabilities, and conducting weighted meta-regressions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil properties and nitrogen availability in silvopastoral plantings of Acacia melanoxylon in North Island, New Zealand

Acacia melanoxylon, a N₂-fixing timber tree occurring naturally in eastern Australia, is now promoted as a component of silvopastoral systems; but the interaction of the tree with pasture and soils has not been adequately studied. This study investigated the effects of Acacia melanoxylon on soil nitrogen (N) levels, N availability, soil pH, bulk density, organic carbon, C:N ratios and soil moisture in three separate silvopastoral sites with contrasting soil types in the North Island of New Zealand. At each site four tree stocking rates were studied (0, 500, 800, and 1700 stems ha^–1). The trees were nine years old at the time of the study. Soil samples from each study site were taken once at three depths (0 to 75 mm, 75 to 150 mm, and 150 to 300 mm), with three replicates per tree stocking rate. Soil analyses showed that although there were differences between soil types, few statistically significant differences occurred due to tree stocking rate. A greenhouse pot trial growing ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L. cv. Concord) in soil from the A horizon of each soil type from under the trees and the open pasture found that ryegrass yield, N uptake and N supply increased with increasing tree stocking rate. Increased N supply under the trees, coupled with greater soil moisture compared to the open pasture may have accounted for the higher pasture yield under Acacia melanoxylon compared to non dinitrogen fixing tree species. This study suggested that Acacia melanoxylon in a silvopastoral system had the potential to increase soil N availability.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis> (hinoki) and other species

 We evaluated the protective effects of floor cover against soil erosion in three types of forest located on steep slopes under a humid climate: 22- and 34-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki), 34-year-old Cryptomeria japonica (sugi), and 62-year-old Pinus densiflora (red pine) stands. We measured sediment transport rates (sediment mass passing through one meter of contour width per millimeter of rainfall), using sediment traps, before and after removing floor cover. Raindrop splash erosion was dominant in the experimental stands. Floor cover percentage (FCP) during the preremoval stage varied from 50% to 100% among the four stands, and sediment transport rates ranged from 0.0079 to 1.7 g m⁻¹ mm⁻¹. The rates increased to 1.5–5.6 g m⁻¹ mm⁻¹ immediately after removing floor cover, and remained high throughout the experiment. The presence of physical cover near the ground has a crucial effect on sediment transport on forested slopes. The protective effect ratio (the ratio of the sediment transport rate in a control plot to that in the removal plot) in a young hinoki stand, in which the FCP decreased markedly, was 0.3 at most, which is close to the rate for bare ground. The protective effect ratio in the red pine stand was ≤0.003. We concluded that the protective effect of floor cover in undisturbed forests in Japan differs by over two orders of magnitude, based on comparisons with previous studies. Received: March 11, 2002 / Accepted: August 16, 2002 Present address: Department of Forest Site Environment, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki 305-8687 Japan Tel. +81-298-73-3211; Fax +81-298-74-3720 e-mail: miura@affrc.go.jp Present address: Department of Forest Site Environment, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki 305-8687 Japan Tel. +81-298-73-3211; Fax +81-298-74-3720 e-mail: miura@affrc.go.jp Acknowledgments This study was supported by the Research Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, of Japan. We thank H. Ujihara, S. Ujihara, and M. Ogasawara in Otoyo, Kochi, who provided the experimental stands used in this study. We also thank K. Hirai, S. Kuramoto, E. Kodani, and the rest of the staff at the Shikoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, for their help in conducting the experiments. Correspondence to:S. Miura     

Water balance and maize yield following improved sesbania fallow in eastern Zambia

Sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.] fallows are being promoted as a means for replenishing soil fertility in N-depleted soils of small-scale, resource-poor farmers in southern Africa. Knowledge of soil water distribution in the soil profile and water balance under proposed systems is important for knowing the long-term implications of the systems at plot, field and watershed levels. Soil water balance was quantified for maize (Zea mays L.) following 2-year sesbania fallow and in continuous maize with and without fertilizer during 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 at Chipata in eastern Zambia. Sesbania fallow increased grain yield and dry matter production of subsequent maize per unit amount of water used. Average maize grain yields following sesbania fallow, and in continuous maize with and without fertilizer were 3, 6 and 1 Mg ha⁻¹ with corresponding water use efficiencies of 4.3, 8.8 and 1.7 kg mm⁻¹ ha⁻¹, respectively. Sesbania fallow increased the soil-water storage in the soil profile and drainage below the maximum crop root zone compared with the conventionally tilled non-fertilized maize. However, sesbania fallow did not significantly affect the seasonal crop water use, mainly because rainfall during both the years of the study was above the normal seasonal water requirements of maize (400 to 600 mm). Besides improving grain yields of maize in rotation, sesbania fallows have the potential to recharge the subsoil water through increased subsurface drainage and increase nitrate leaching below the crop root zone in excess rainfall seasons. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

刺槐林地产流特征及其土壤水分动态谐波分析

刺槐林是中国北方丘陵半干旱区典型的生态防护林树种之一。通过自然降雨径流场定位观测试验,本文对辽宁西部地区(1850-12225E,4024-4234N)刺槐生态防护林及其采伐迹地的产流、产沙特征和土壤水分动态变化规律进行了定量研究。采伐迹地与刺槐林地相比二者之间的产流量和产沙量存在显著差异,采伐迹地的产流量和产沙量比刺槐林地分别增加40%-177%和180%-400%。典型降雨产流水文过程线显示,刺槐林地径流峰值比采伐迹地低1.0-2.5?0-3m3穝-1,且径流峰值出现的时间比采伐迹地滞后10-20min。谐波分析表明,刺槐林地与采伐迹地土壤含水量随年内降水量变化分干、湿两季,呈周期性变化,刺槐林地土壤年平均含水量比采伐迹地高2.3%。研究结果表明:刺槐生态防护林具有涵养水源、增加土壤水分、减少地表径流与土壤侵蚀的重要作用。图2表4参12。     

土壤有机碳动态模型的研究进展

As the largest pool of terrestrial organic carbon, soils interact strongly with atmosphere composition, climate, and land change. Soil organic carbon dynamics in ecosystem plays a great role in global carbon cycle and global change. With development of mathematical models that simulate changes in soil organic carbon, there have been considerable advances in understanding soil organic carbon dynamics. This paper mainly reviewed the composition of soil organic matter and its influenced factors, and recommended some soil organic matter models worldwide. Based on the analyses of the developed results at home and abroad, it is suggested that future soil organic matter models should be developed toward based-process models, and not always empirical ones. The models are able to reveal their interaction between soil carbon systems, climate and land cover by technique and methods of GIS (Geographical Information System) and RS (Remote Sensing). These models should be developed at a global scale, in dynamically describing the spatial and temporal changes of soil organic matter cycle. Meanwhile, the further researches on models should be strengthen for providing theory basis and foundation in making policy of green house gas emission in China.     

樟树林生态系统中多环芳烃含量和分布特征

利用气相色谱仪 (GC)对樟树林生态系统中植物体各器官和林地土壤的多环芳烃 (PAHs)进行定性和定量测定。结果表明 :乔木层樟树各器官中树皮的PAHs含量最高 ,为 86 4 1μg·kg- 1 ;树干最低 ,为 2 84 3μg·kg- 1 ;其他依次为籽实 (75 2 0 μg·kg- 1 ) >树根 (7115 μg·kg- 1 ) >树枝 (5 35 2 μg·kg- 1 ) >树叶 (4 4 81μg·kg- 1 )。樟树林生态系统中PAHs含量空间分布为 :枯枝落叶层 (92 35 μg·kg- 1 ) >乔木层 (5 995 μg·kg- 1 ) >草本层 (36 31μg·kg- 1 ) >土壤层(14 6 6 μg·kg- 1 ) >灌木层 (2 4 5 μg·kg- 1 )。与无林地土壤的PAHs含量 (3470 μg·kg- 1 )相比 ,樟树林土壤的PAHs含量低 5 0 %以上。同时 ,随大气降水进入樟树林的PAHs,经过林木的吸附和降解后 ,林内降水和地表径流的PAHs种类和含量明显减少 ,说明樟树林生态系统对PAHs具有吸附和降解作用。     

盐分和水分胁迫对落羽杉幼苗的生长量及营养元素含量的影响

采用温室盆栽试验方法 ,研究了不同土壤水分下盐胁迫对 1年生落羽杉实生苗的生长及营养吸收的影响。试验共 12种处理 ,3种水分水平 (W1 ,淹水 ;W2 、W3,土壤含水量分别为田间持水量的 75 %和 2 5 % ) ,每种水分下设 4种盐分处理 (NaCl含量为土壤干重的 0、0 15 %、0 3%和 0 4 5 % ) ,处理时间为 130d。结果表明 :土壤盐分胁迫下落羽杉幼苗的生长及对营养的吸收发生了显著的变化 ,这种变化又因土壤含水量的不同而不同。落羽杉相对高生长、相对地径生长和生物量增量随着土壤盐分浓度的增加和土壤水分含量的减少而减少。在淹水条件下 ,随着土壤盐分浓度的增加 ,落羽杉幼苗根、茎、叶中全N、全P、全Na,以及叶片中的全Ca、全Fe的含量均随着升高 ,而根、茎中的全Fe、全Ca、全Mg含量差异较小。在W2 水分条件下 ,各种盐分处理都在不同程度上增加了根、茎、叶中全N、全Na、全Ca和全Fe含量 ,茎和叶中全P、全K和全Mg含量 ,而根系中的全P、全K和全Mg含量在盐分浓度较高时有所下降。在W3水分条件下 ,各种土壤盐分不同程度地增加了叶片全N、全P和全K含量 ,茎和叶中全Mg和全Ca含量 ,以及根、茎、叶中全Na含量 ,而茎和根中全N、全P和全K含量 ,根、茎和叶中全Fe含量均随着土壤盐分浓度的增加而下降。     

Soil organic carbon and aggregation under poplar based agroforestry system in relation to tree age and soil type

The poplar based agroforestry system improves aggregation of soil through huge amounts of organic matter in the form of leaf biomass. The extent of improvement may be affected by the age of the poplar trees and the soil type. The surface and subsurface soil samples from agroforestry and adjoining non-agroforestry sites with different years of poplar plantation (1, 3 and 6 years) and varying soil textures (loamy sand and sandy clay) were analyzed for soil organic carbon, its sequestration and aggregate size distribution. The average soil organic carbon increased from 0.36 in sole crop to 0.66% in agroforestry soils. The increase was higher in loamy sand than sandy clay. The soil organic carbon increased with increase in tree age. The soils under agroforestry had 2.9–4.8 Mg ha⁻¹ higher soil organic carbon than in sole crop. The poplar trees could sequester higher soil organic carbon in 0–30 cm profile during the first year of their plantation (6.07 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than the subsequent years (1.95–2.63 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The sandy clay could sequester higher carbon (2.85 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than in loamy sand (2.32 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates increased by 3.2, 7.3 and 13.3 times in soils with 1, 3 and 6 years plantation, respectively from that in sole crop. The increase in MWD with agroforestry was higher in loamy sand than sandy clay soil. The water stable aggregates (WSA >0.25 mm) increased by 14.4, 32.6 and 56.9 times in soils with 1, 3 and 6 years plantation, respectively, from that in sole crop. The WSA >0.25 mm were 6.02 times higher in loamy sand and 2.2 times in sandy clay than in sole crop soils.     

Soil and litter fauna of cacao agroforestry systems in Bahia,Brazil

Agroforestry systems deposit great amounts of plant residues on soil and this leads to high levels of soil organic matter content and has increased soil biodiversity and improved its conservation. This study compares the distribution of meso and macrofaunal communities in soil and litter under cacao agroforestry systems and in a natural forest in the southern Bahia state of Brazil. Soil and litter samples were obtained in September 2003, February 2004, and August 2004 in five cacao agroforestry systems. The systems evaluated included: cacao renewed under Erythrina sp. (Erythrina poeppigiana) (CRE); cacao renewed under natural forest (Cabruca, CRF); an old cacao system under Erythrina sp. (OCE); an old cacao system under a natural forest system (Cabruca, OCF) and a cacao germplasm collection area (CGC). As a reference soil and litter under a natural forest (NF) was included. Organisms were collected over a 15-day period with a Berlese–Tullgren apparatus. The density and richness of total fauna varied distinctly according to sites, sampling time and material sampled (soil and litter). 16,409 of fauna were recovered from soil and litter samples and the density of total fauna was 2,094 individuals m⁻² in the litter and 641 individuals m⁻² in the soil. The richness was 11.8 in the litter and 7.5 in the soil. The cacao agroforestry systems adopted for growing cacao in the southern Bahia region of Brazil have beneficial effects on the soil and litter faunal communities, and such systems of cacao cultivation could be considered as a conservation system for soil fauna. The development of a litter layer resulted in higher abundance and diversity of soil fauna.