Agroforestry for Soil Management

Agroforestry refers to land use systems in which trees grow in association with agricultural crops, pastures or livestock. From its inception agroforestry has contained a strong element of soil management. This is found in both indigenous and modern agroforestry systems. The earliest form of agroforestry, shifting cultivation, has objectives which are primarily related to soils and many other indigenous agroforestry systems achieve maintenance of soil fertility. This book represents an update and new edition of the author's previous book "Agroforestry for Soil Conservation", published in 1989. A great deal of research in agroforestry has happened during this time, with the resulting increase in reporting of results and interim conclusions from field trials and experiments. Much of this information has been assimilated and incorporated into this new edition. For example the need to rely upon "indirect evidence" for the likely success of agroforestry has been largely replaced by direct evidence reported from these experiments. "Agroforestry for Soil Management", 2nd edition, is for all agroforestry students and lecturers. It is also a resource for all those concerned with sustainable development, such as agricultural extension workers. Moreover, the book provides information for those studying and teaching forestry and is also of much value to soil scientists and agronomists.

Table of Contents:
1: Preface 2: Agroforestry, soil management and sustainability 3: Effects of trees on soils 4: Soil and water conservation 5: Soil water management 6: Soil organic matter and physical properties 7: Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency 8: The role of roots 9: Agroforestry systems for soil management 10: Modelling 11: Research 12: Agroforestry, land use and the environment 13: Conclusions

Review :
"The body of agroforestry literature has changed our understanding so substantially since publication of the previous edition that this current volume represents a completely new synthesis, rather than minor updating. The latter is about a third larger than the previous edition, and about four-fifths of the 700 literature citations have been published since 1989. Discussion has been expanded substantially in topics such as the role of roots, modeling, nutrient cycling and nutrient-use efficiency, and hedgerow intercropping . . . [I]mprovements ... include a significant increase in the number and quality of photographs, concise chapter summaries, and an improved index . . . The previous edition of this book has been a highly-cited and valued reference. Agroforestry for Soil Management should occupy no less a position on the shelves of teachers, students and anyone who is involved or interested in agroforestry--especially tropical agroforestry."--The Quarterly Review of Biology