Agroforestry

Definition

Agroforestry is the deliberate combination of trees or shrubs with crops or livestock on the same land. The trees add deep roots, leaf litter, shelter and year-round cover that benefit soil, and they can also supply fruit, timber or fodder. Examples include alley cropping, trees in pasture and tree-lined field margins. The costs are slower returns, more complex management and possible competition with crops, so the species must suit the local climate. See also: Cover crop, Mycorrhiza, Erosion, and the guide "Restoring and Protecting Soil: Practices and Honest Limits".