Agroforestry is defined as a land use system that integrates trees, crops, and animals in a scientifically, ecologically, and socially sustainable way. It aims to increase overall land productivity through the combined production of various components. Some key attributes of agroforestry systems are that they seek to maintain or increase total outputs, sustainably conserve resources, and be adoptable by local farmers. There are many types of agroforestry systems defined by their structural composition, functions, socioeconomic level, and suitable ecology. Examples include agrisilviculture, alley cropping, and silvipasture.

1. LEC. 6. AGROFORESTRY – DEFINITION
AND CONCEPTS AGROFORESTRY
SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES
Dr. B. Sangeetha
Assistant Professor, KITS

2. DEFINITION
• Agroforestry as a land use system that integrates trees, crops and
animals in a way that is scientifically sound, ecologically desirable,
practically feasible and socially acceptable to the farmers (Nair, 1979)
• “Agroforestry is a sustainable land management system which increases
the overall yield of the land, combines the production of crops (including
tree crops) and forest plants and/or animals simultaneously or
sequentially, on the same unit of land and applies management
practices that are compatible with the cultural practices of the local
population (King and Chandler 1978)

3. • Land use system that integrates trees with agriculture crops, and or animals
simultaneously or sequentially to get higher productivity, more economic returns and
better social and ecological benefits on a sustainable yield basis than are obtainable from
mono-culture on the same unit of land, especially under conditions of low levels of
technological inputs on marginal sites (ICRAF, 1982).

4. CONCEPTS OF AGROFORESTRY
• Agroforestry is a collective name for land use systems involving trees combined
with crops and/or animals on the same unit of land.
• Combines production of multiple outputs with protection of production base
• Places emphasis on the use of multiple indigenous trees and shrubs
• Particularly suitable for low-input conditions and fragile environments
• Involves the interplay of sociocultural values more than in most other land-use
systems
• Structurally and functionally more complex than monoculture

5. ATTRIBUTES OF AGROFORESTRY
• There are three attributes which, theoretically, all agroforestry system possess, these are:
• Productivity:
• Agroforestry systems aim to maintain or increase production.
• These include: increased output of tree products, improved yields of associated crops,
reduction of cropping system inputs, and increased labour efficiency.
• Sustainability:
• By conserving the production potential of the resource base, mainly through the beneficial
effects of woody perennials on soils, agroforestry can achieve and indefinitely maintain
conservation and fertility goals

6. • Adoptability:
• The word “adopt” here means “accept” and it may
be distinguished from another commonly used
word adapt, which implies “modify” or “change.”
The fact that agroforestry is a relatively new word
for an old set of practices means that, in some
cases, agroforestry was already been accepted by
the farming community.

7. MAIN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS UNDER COMPONENTS COMPOSITION

9. AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
 Agrisilviculture (trees + crops)
 Boundary plantation (tree on boundary + crops)
 Block plantation (block of tree+ block of crops)
 Energy plantation (trees + crops during initial years)
 Alley cropping (hedges + crops)
 Agrihorticulture (fruit trees + crops)
 Agrisilvihorticulture (trees + fruit trees + crops)
 Agrisilvipasture (trees + crops + pasture or animals)
 Silvi-Olericulture (tree + vegetables)

10. AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
 Horti-Pasture (fruit trees + pasture or animals)
 Horti-Olericulture (fruit tree + vegetables)
 Silvi-Pasture (trees + pasture/animals)
 Forage Forestry (forage trees + pasture)
 Shelter-belts (trees + crops)
 Wind-breaks (trees + crops)
 Live Fence (shrubs and under- trees on boundary)
 Silvi or Horti-sericulture (trees or fruit trees +
sericulture)
 Horti-Apiculture (fruit trees + honeybee)
 Aqua-Forestry (trees + fishes)
 Homestead (multiple combinations of trees, fruit trees,
vegetable etc).

11. AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS CAN BE CATEGORIZED ACCORDING TO THESE SETS OF
CRITERIA:
• Structural basis: refers to the composition of the components, including spatial
arrangement of the woody component, vertical stratification of all the components, and
temporal arrangement of the different components.
• Functional basis: refers to the major function or role of the system, usually furnished
by the woody components (these can be of a service or protective nature, e.g.,
windbreak, shelterbelt, soil conservation).
• Socioeconomic basis: refers to the level of inputs of management (low input, high
input) or intensity or scale of management and commercial goals (subsistence,
commercial, intermediate).
• Ecological basis: refers to the environmental condition and ecological suitability of
systems, based on the assumption that certain types of systems can be more appropriate
for certain ecological conditions

12. CLASSIFIACATION OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
S.No. Basis of classification Various Agro Forestry Systems
1. Structural Basis
A. Nature and mixture of
crops
a. Agri-silviculture
b. Silvipasture
c. Agri- Silvipasture
d. Miscellaneous system
B. Arrangement of different
components
a. Spatial arrangements
b. Temporal arrangements
2. Functional Basis a. Productive forestry
b. Protective Forestry
3. Socio –Economic Basis a. Commercial Agroforestry
b. Subsistence Agroforestry
c. Intermediate Agroforestry
4. Ecological Basis a. Humid-and Sub-Humid Agroforestry
b. Arid and Semi-Arid Agroforestry
c. Highland Agroforestry

13. MAJOR APPROCHES TO CLASSIFIACATION OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES

14. MAJOR APPROCHES TO CLASSIFIACATION OFAGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AND
PRACTICES

15. MAJOR APPROCHES TO CLASSIFIACATION OFAGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AND
PRACTICES