3. Agroforestry to sustain soil conservation
By Malini Shankar
“Agroforestry, the integration of
trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock, stands as a pivotal strategy in sustainable
land management and climate action (SDGs 3, 13, 15). This review
synthesizes current knowledge and practices of agroforestry, focusing on its
diverse systems, contributions to sustainable land management, role in climate
change mitigation and adaptation, and the challenges and future prospects, with
a special emphasis on the Indian context. Agroforestry systems, classified into
silvopastoral, agrosilvicultural, and silvoarable, along with
specialized practices like alley cropping and forest farming, demonstrate
significant adaptability across various climatic and geographical regions.
These systems have shown promising results globally, evident in case studies
highlighting their effectiveness in different environmental settings. In the
realm of sustainable land management, agroforestry is instrumental in soil
conservation, enhancing soil fertility, and nutrient cycling. It also plays a
critical role in biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of ecosystem
services, such as water regulation and pollination. Socioeconomically,
agroforestry contributes to improving livelihoods and economic resilience, as
demonstrated in various local community case studies. In addressing climate
change, agroforestry systems are notable for their carbon sequestration
capabilities. Compared to traditional agricultural practices, these systems
exhibit a higher potential for carbon storage, both above and below ground.
They also enhance resilience to climate extremes, offering adaptive strategies
for farmers and communities facing climatic variability. Policy and global
initiatives increasingly recognize agroforestry's role in climate action, with
international agreements and organizations fostering its integration into
national policies. The implementation of agroforestry is not without
challenges. Technical complexities, the need for site-specific knowledge, economic
and policy barriers, and sociocultural factors pose significant hurdles. For
India, a country with diverse agro-ecological zones, these challenges are
coupled with opportunities for research, technological innovation, policy
improvement, and global-local collaborations. The future prospects for
agroforestry are vast, particularly in the Indian context, where it can
significantly contribute to sustainable agriculture and rural development.
Continued research, policy support, and collaborative efforts are essential to
fully realize the potential of agroforestry in environmental conservation,
climate change mitigation, and socioeconomic development” according to a Study ’Agroforestry
and Its Potential for Sustainable Land Management and Climate Action: A Review Agroforestry
and Its Potential for Sustainable Land Management and Climate Action: A Review’.
Soil nutrition is a much neglected sphere of
ecological restoration but forms the bedrock to mitigate soil erosion.
Polyculture fruit farming as against
monoculture fruit farming helps not only
in watershed management that is because the top soil strata interacts with
different kinds of tree roots in different ways absorbing or releasing
nutrients for tree growth in a symbiotic fashion. Not just the tree roots but
the leaf litter too enhances soil nutrition by sequestering Carbon, regulating
rain water percolation, stabilising soils, replenishing the ground water table
and enriching soil nutrition which in turn makes the soil fertile and crop
yield desirable. That translates to fiscal advantage in export markets.
Soil
conservation in its broader sense covers erosion control, the maintenance
of soil fertility, and thus sustainable land use. This Working Paper, which
forms Part I of the review as a whole, covers agroforestry in erosion control.
Trends in soil conservation research and policy are reviewed, and assessed with
respect to their significance for agroforestry. Attention is given to
predictive models, the importance of soil cover, land evaluation, effects of
erosion on land productivity, and economic and policy aspects. The impact of
agroforestry on erosion is reviewed with respect to effects of trees on the
causative factors of erosion, and examples of agroforestry practices in erosion
control. The different lines of evidence are summarized in terms of the probable
effectiveness of specified agroforestry practices as a means of erosion
control. The combination of a high apparent potential with sparse data means
that there is a clear need for research. The objectives and design of research
are discussed.
Leaf litter and compostable mulch
are critical for soil nutrition of both top soil and sub soil. Besides it helps
regulate ambient temperatures in the micro climate. Other advantages include
factoring in de-weeding naturally, and pest control. Natural farming as an agro
ecological intervention in watershed management and soil conservation is a tool
for Climate Action – SDG 13 ( Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change
mitigation). Leaf litter decomposition is in perfect balance with peat
formation in the deeper strata – again regulating Climate Change naturally,
thanks to the chemical reactions. These are part of the natural organic cycles
of Nature’s elements. By the same reason micro-organisms and their predators /
food chain in the soil – earthworm to beetles, ants to other ground nesting
insects - they all thrive in a symbiotic space.
Agroforestry is in dire need of
practise and implementation for food security, Climate Change Adaptation, water
and livelihood security. That is a good way of putting People before the Planet
indeed!
Picture credit:
Txllxt
TxllxT - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70696124
Autan,
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