Instant Insights: Agroforestry Practices

Dr Lindsay Whistance is Senior Livestock Researcher at the Organic Research Centre in the UK. She is internationally known for her research on farm animal behaviour, health, welfare and nutrition in organic agriculture. Dr María Rosa Mosquera-Losada is Distinguished Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Professor Mosquera-Losada is President of the Spanish Agroforestry Association (AGFE) and a former President of the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF). She is also Coordinator of the EU-funded Agroforestry Innovation Networks (AFINET) project, a Policy Work Package Leader for the EU project AGFORWARD (Agroforestry that will Advance Rural Development) and Data Knowledge Work Package Leader for the EU project EURAKNOS (Connecting Thematic Networks as Knowledge Reservoirs: towards a European Agricultural Knowledge Innovation Open Source System) and is also co-Chair of the Croplands Working Group of the Global Research Alliance and of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (FAO).

Chapter 1 - Integrated crop/livestock systems with agroforestry to improve organic animal farming: A. J. Escribano, Nutrion Internacional, Spain; J. Ryschawy, University of Toulouse, France; and L. K. Whistance, The Organic Research Centre, UK;

1 Introduction
2 Types of ICLS
3 Environmental and economic benefits of ICLS
4 Agroforestry as an ICLS
5 Animals in agroforestry systems
6 Trees as a source of nutrition and medicine
7 Challenges in integrated livestock and forestry systems
8 Conclusion
9 Where to look for further information
10 References


Chapter 2 - Tree planting and management in agroforestry: Lydie Dufour, INRA, France;

1 Introduction
2 Choice of tree species
3 Tree planting
4 Plantation maintenance
5 Tree pruning and thinning
6 Conclusion and future trends
7 Where to look for further information
8 References


Chapter 3 - Temperate alley cropping systems: Diomy S. Zamora, University of Minnesota, USA; Samuel C. Allen, New Mexico State University, USA; Kent G. Apostol, Independent Researcher and Editor, USA; Shibu Jose, University of Missouri, USA; and Gary Wyatt, University of Minnesota, USA;

1 Introduction
2 Potential of alley cropping
3 Design considerations
4 Functions/benefits of alley cropping
5 Competition for growth resources
6 Evaluating system performance: the case of the pecancotton alley cropping system
7 Future trends and conclusion
8 Where to look for further information
9 References


Chapter 4 - Sustainable production of willow for biofuel use: M. Weih, P.-A. Hansson, J. A. Ohlsson, M. Sandgren, A. Schnürer and A.-C. Rönnberg- Wästljung, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden;

1 Introduction
2 Feedstock quality for biofuel use
3 Feedstock productivity
4 Cropping security
5 Biodiversity
6 Nutrient uptake and use
7 Carbon accumulation and sequestration
8 Ecosystem services and environmental impact
9 Case study
10 Summary and future trends
11 Acknowledgements
12 Where to look for further information
13 References


Chapter 5 - The importance of agroforestry systems in supporting biodiversity conservation and agricultural production: a European perspective: M. R. Mosquera-Losada, J. J. Santiago-Freijanes, A. Rigueiro-Rodríguez, F. J. Rodríguez-Rigueiro, D. Arias Martínez, A. Pantera and N. Ferreiro-Domínguez, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain;

1 Introduction
2 The contribution of agroforestry to global biodiversity goals
3 Agroforestry and the protection of species and habitats
4 Agroforestry and the maintenance and restoration of ecosystems
5 Achieving more sustainable agriculture and forestry
6 Stopping the loss of global biodiversity
7 Future trends
8 Where to look for further information
9 Acknowledgements
10 References