What is tree crop interactions?
How is tree crop interaction important in agroforestry?
What is interactions in agroforestry?
What type of interaction are most preferred in agroforestry?
Understanding how trees, crops, and animals interact is critical for agroforestry students. Trees and crops can share above-ground and below-ground space in simultaneous agroforestry systems. Trees and crops interact in a variety of ways, resulting in both positive (facilitation) and negative (interference) impacts on both tree and crop growth. These extremely complicated processes are related to light, water, nutrients, and wind. These processes have an impact on the soil as well. There are also indirect relationships, such as those involving pests and illnesses. This section examines the principles of these interactions as well as the good and negative consequences that they may have.
The cycling of soil organic matter, nutrients, and water is critical to understanding the interactions in agroforestry systems. The interconnections between trees, crops, and soil are then investigated using a complete understanding of these cycles.
Interactions that are beneficial (both below and above ground):
- Recycling of nutrients and water
- The role of tree root systems as a “safety net” for nutrients that have leached down the soil profile, below the crop roots (and would otherwise have been lost from the system), and (2) a “nutrient pump” for weathered minerals in deep soil layers.
- The role of ancient tree-root canals in increasing water infiltration and decreasing soil erosion
- Nitrogen supply from tree roots, either through root decay or nitrogen fixation
- Mycorrhizal relationships to improve phosphorus availability
- Litter production, functions, and litter quality
- Keeping soil organic matter content stable
- Mulching, soil moisture, and biological activity in the soil
- Shades
- Improvement of microclimate parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, and so on (for example, coffee needs shading)
- Preserving carbon stocks as well as above- and below-ground variety
Negative interactions (below and above ground) that could occur:
- Light competition above ground
- Competition for water and nutrients below earth
- Pests and illnesses (intercropped cassava, for example, may spread white root disease to rubber).
- Allelopathic action