Agroforestry for enhanced land productivity and ecosystem services in rainfed areas

Abstract

Agroforestry is a land use system that integrates trees with agricultural production systems, enabling diversification to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and ecosystem sustainability. It is the practice of using trees, shrubs and other plants to enhance land productivity and is an effective way to improve soil fertility, increase water infiltration and reduce erosion. Agroforestry plays an important role in the sustainability of rainfed areas, since high risk is involved with arable farming due to aberrant weather situations and other abiotic and biotic stresses resulting in uneconomic yields. Agroforestry is increasingly viewed as a system that provides ecosystem services, environmental benefits and economic commodities as part of multifunctional working landscapes.