Management of Agroforestry for the Conservation and Utilization of Land and Water Resources

Abstract

Although the potential of agroforestry for conservation and utilization of soil and water resources is well recognized, experimental evidence on the extent of actual benefits is limited. However, the scope for adoption of agroforestry technologies is great because of the low requirement for investment and the potentially high economic benefits, as most of them combine protection with production. Technologies vary from those with conservation as the main purpose to those focused on production, where soil conservation is supplementary. The adoption of agroforestry systems will ultimately depend on increased crop yields and economic benefits to farmers. The realization of their potential benefits will in turn depend on the management, which includes carefully selecting trees and shrubs adapted to local conditions, using a combination of appropriate technologies, and following good silvicultural and crop husbandry practices. Availability of tree seedlings and labour, the need to protect trees during non-cropping periods, competition of trees with crops for growth resources, and lack of short-term economic benefits are some of the constraints to the adoption of agroforestry by farmers.