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Agroforestry

Encouraging awareness of agroforestry for improving soil conservation, nutrition, soil fertility, fuel wood production and family income. Includes details of nursery techniques.

To download a pdf version of the book, click here (2050K). To view the pages of the book in html format, follow the links below.

Objectives and anticipated outcomes Objectives To increase awareness of the benefits of including trees with growing crops as part of sustainable agriculture To raise awareness of the value of agroforestry in improving soil fertility and preventing soil erosion To raise awarene... More >>

Agroforestry glossary Agroforestry growing crops and trees together so that both benefit. Aim broad, long-term, important goal. Boundary a dividing line which marks the edges of someone’s land or field. erosion the loss of good topsoil through the action of rainwate... More >>

F1 Introduction to agroforestry Agroforestry is the practice of allowing trees and crops to grow together. This may be on farmland or in the forest. It is a way of making better use of the land available to get more products from the farm. Trees grown on farmland will change th... More >>

F2 The benefits of agroforestry Trees help us in so many ways. See how many uses you can think of. Consider how much can grow in a forest and how fertile the forest soil can be. Agroforestry tries to introduce some of the benefits of the forest onto our farms. The trees used fo... More >>

F3 The names of trees Local trees usually have one or more names in each local language. However to help people who speak different languages identify the same tree, every tree also has a ‘scientific’ name in Latin that remains the same worldwide. These scientific names... More >>

F4 Qualities needed for agroforestry trees The best trees to grow together with crops are those with deep roots so they do not compete with crops for water and nutrients. They should allow light through their leaves to allow crops to grow. They should survive regular pruning and cutting... More >>

F5 Encouraging tree growth Many local trees can be encouraged to grow without the need to plant seeds. If you only want a few seedlings of a local tree, it may be possible to find these growing naturally. If they are well placed they could simply be protected from animal dam... More >>

F6 Obtaining young trees You may be fortunate to have a nearby nursery that has a good supply of tree seedlings. However, most farmers who want to plant a lot of trees will find it best to grow their own trees. This means you can choose the kind of trees you want; you ca... More >>

F7 Collecting and storing tree seeds Make it a habit to carry some bags or old envelopes with you so you are always ready to collect seed from good trees. Collect only fully ripened seed from strong healthy trees. Take seeds from the best examples of the tree available. Seeds in pod... More >>

F8 Direct planting of tree seeds Many trees can be sown directly into the ground. Plant lines of seeds following the contour line, or around the outside of a plot of land. Plant the seeds either just before the rains begin or early in the rainy season. If the rains fail, it may ... More >>

F9 Preparing a tree nursery It is very simple to build and look after a tree nursery. This can range from just a few trees growing in shade near your home to a large nursery with hundreds of young trees. A larger nursery should be close to a permanent water source and on le... More >>

F10 Suitable containers for tree seeds Seeds can be planted in all kinds of containers. Plastic tubes, milk cartons, plastic bags, tins or broken pots all make good growing containers. All should have a few holes in the base for water to drain out. Seeds can also be planted in beds. ... More >>

F11 Sowing seeds Plan sowing so tree seedlings will be ready during the rainy season. Many tree seedlings need about four to six months in a tree nursery before planting out. Water the containers very well before planting with seed. After sowing, water the contai... More >>

F12 Care of young seedlings As the seeds grow, they develop into seedlings. These need room to develop. Thin out to leave just one seedling in each container and well-spaced seedlings about 5cm (the length of a finger) apart in beds. With care, you can prick out seedlings int... More >>

F13 Root pruning Seedlings planted in large seed beds need special care to prevent the roots growing together and becoming mixed up. As the seedlings grow, the roots should be regularly pruned to encourage strong root growth. Cut the soil into squares to separate the... More >>

F14 Hardening off For the last four to six weeks in the nursery the seedling trees need to be ‘taught’ how to survive outside the nursery where there is no shade and where it does not rain every day. This is called ‘hardening off ’. If a shade has been built over th... More >>

F15 Planting out tree seedlings If possible, only plant out seedlings on cloudy days when rain has made the soil really wet. Late afternoon is the best time to plant them out. Water large seed beds well the evening before planting. Remove two end pieces and cut the trees out care... More >>

F16 Giving young trees a good start Make a small hollow around the tree to catch water. Keep clear of weeds. If trees are planted on a slope, make V-shaped ridges to catch and hold rainwater. During dry periods, if seedlings are planted near the house or a water ... More >>

F17 Alley cropping A common method of agroforestry is called ‘alley cropping’. Closely planted lines of suitable trees are spaced about five metres apart – usually by direct seeding or transplanting from tree nurseries. The lines are placed across a slope, within are... More >>

F18 Trees for farm boundaries Some trees are useful to plant on the edges of fields and farms. They can be used to mark boundaries and to provide protection from strong winds. Choose trees which are fast growing and which allow crops to grow nearby. They should be trees that ... More >>

F19 Trees for livestock fodder Many trees suitable for agroforestry have leaves and pods that are edible by animals such as cattle, goats and sheep. They can be cut regularly and carried to feed livestock. Green leaves from trees can often be cut in seasons when other green fodd... More >>

F20 Firewood trees Often when trees are grown on the farm by men, they are grown for timber. Women are not allowed to cut these trees for firewood. Special trees may also be planted by women on farmland for use as firewood. Many trees used in agroforestry like sesb... More >>

F21 Fruit trees All kinds of fruit trees can be grown near crops. They are often very suitable to plant as boundary trees, near to the home or as small plantations mixed with other kinds of trees. Some fruit trees grow very large and develop dense shade. These n... More >>

F22 Moringa – a tree with special properties Moringa is a small tree with many valuable properties. It grows fast and it continues to grow if cut back. The leaves can be cooked as a green vegetable or used for animal fodder. It is a legume and improves soil fertility. It also produces seed pods... More >>

Bible studies These Bible studies are designed to use in small groups. They may provide a useful introduction to a meeting where different topics from the Guide are being discussed. Choose a study that will be linked to the topic you plan to study or that is relev... More >>

Checklist of names for useful agroforestry trees Common name Scientific name acacia Acacia albidaAcacia auriculiformis cashew Anacardium occidentale neem Azadirachta indica desert date (balanites) Balanites aegyptiaca calliandra Calliandra calothyr... More >>

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