An Introduction to Agroforestry

Contents: Preface. Acknowledgements. I. Introduction: 1. The history of agroforestry. 2. Definition and concepts of agroforestry. II. Agroforestry systems and practices: 3. Classification of agroforestry systems. 4. Distribution of agroforestry systems in the tropics. 5. Shifting cultivation and improved fallows. 6. Taungya. 7. Homegardens. 8. Plantation crop combinations. 9. Alley cropping. 10. Other agroforestry systems and practices. III. Agroforestry species: 11. General principles of plant productivity. 12. Agroforestry species: the multipurpose trees. 13. Component interactions. IV. Soil productivity and protection: 14. Tropical soils. 15. Effects of trees on soils. 16. Nutrient cycling and soil organic matter. 17. Nitrogen fixation. 18. Soil conservation. V. Design and evaluation of agroforestry systems: 19. The diagnosis and design (D and D) methodology. 20. Field experiments in agroforestry. 21. On-farm research. 22. Economic considerations. 23. Socio cultural considerations. 24. Evaluation of agroforestry systems VI. Agroforestry in the temperate zone: 25. Agroforestry in the temperate zone. Glossary. List of acronyms and abbreviations. SI units and conversion factors. Subject index.

"This college-level textbook summarizes the state of current knowledge in the rapidly expanding field of agroforestry. The book, organized into 25 chapters in six sections, reviews the developments in agroforestry during the past 15 years and describes the accomplishments in the application of biophysical (plant-and soil-related) and socioeconomic sciences to agroforestry. Although the major focus of the book is on the tropics where the practice and potential for agroforestry are particularly promising, the developments in temperate-zone agroforestry are also discussed.

This text is recommended for students, teachers and researchers in agroforestry, farming systems, and tropical land-use." (jacket)