Terra Preta soils of central Amazonia exhibit approximately three times more soil organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus and 70 times more charcoal compared to adjacent infertile soils. The Terra Preta soils were generated by pre-Columbian native populations by chance or intentionally adding large amounts of charred residues (charcoal), organic wastes, excrements and bones. In this paper, it is argued that generating new Terra Preta sites (‘Terra Preta nova’) could be the basis for sustainable agriculture in the twenty-first century to produce food for billions of people, and could lead to attaining three Millennium Development Goals: (i) to combat desertification, (ii) to sequester atmospheric CO2 in the long term, and (iii) to maintain biodiversity hotspots such as tropical rainforests. Therefore, large-scale generation and utilization of Terra Preta soils would decrease the pressure on primary forests that are being extensively cleared for agricultural use with only limited fertility and sustainability and, hence, only providing a limited time for cropping. This would maintain biodiversity while mitigating both land degradation and climate change. However, it should not be overlooked that the infertility of most tropical soils (and associated low population density) is what could have prevented tropical forests undergoing large-scale clearance for agriculture. Increased fertility may increase the populations supported by shifting cultivation, thereby maintaining and increasing pressure on forests.

/pdf/prehistorically-modified-soils-of-central-amazonia-a-model-39wzydp7gg.pdf

Prehistorically modified soils of central Amazonia: a model for sustainable agriculture in the twenty-first century.

The rate and extent to which biophysical resources are captured and utilized by the components of an agroforestry system are determined by the nature and intensity of interactions between the components. The net effect of these interactions is often determined by the influence of the tree component on the other component(s) and/or on the overall system, and is expressed in terms of such quantifiable responses as soil fertility changes, microclimate modification, resource (water, nutrients, and light) availability and utilization, pest and disease incidence, and allelopathy. The paper reviews such manifestations of biophysical interactions in major simultaneous (e.g., hedgerow intercropping and trees on croplands) and sequential (e.g., planted tree fallows) agroforestry systems.

/pdf/biophysical-interactions-in-tropical-agroforestry-systems-26l8aikipf.pdf

Biophysical interactions in tropical agroforestry systems

Combined application of organic matter and fertilizer

Nutrient cycling in tropical agroforestry systems: myths and science.

Impact of agroforestry intervention on soil fertility and farm income under the subsistence farming system of the middle hills, Nepal

Interactions betweenGliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud., the crops maize and upland rice, and soil conditions were investigated in an alley cropping experiment on aFerralic Cambisol/Plinthic Lixisol in the rainforest area of the Cote d'Ivoire. Conventional and mulched sole cropping treatments were included for comparison. Hedgerow integration significantly reduced N and Mg losses from the soil. These effects were neither observed in the mulched sole cropping treatment nor reduced by hedgerow root barriers, suggesting that they were not direct consequences of the input of hedgerow biomass into the soil. Crop yields were increased in the central part of the alleys as compared to sole cropping, but the effect was offset by the loss of cropped surface which was occupied by the hedgerows and by yield depressions at the tree-crop interface.Gliricidia mulch increased foliar nutrient concentrations of maize; however, unlike mineral fertilizer the mulch had no influence on the imbalance between low P and high K levels in maize leaves. Nutrient accumulation in the dry season vegetation tended to be higher in alley cropping than in sole cropping. Weeds were particularly efficient in accumulating those nutrients which were relatively low in the hedgerow biomass. Necessary improvements to the cropping system are discussed. The optimum composition of fertilizers in mulching systems deserves attention.

Alley cropping with Gliricidia sepium on a high base status soil following forest clearing: effects on soil conditions, plant nutrition and crop yields

Face a une reduction des surfaces agricoles disponibles et une augmentation des besoins d'une population croissante, il devient necessaire d'intensifier (avec le moins d'intrants possibles) les "systemes d'agriculture sur brulis de jachere spontanee", en reduisant la duree de la jachere, et/ou, en ralentissant la baisse de fertilite pendant la periode de culture, si possible tout en diversifiant les productions Une equipe de chercheurs a suivi un essai en station concernant la plantation de legumineuses arborees (chute de litiere, bois) en analysant les contenus mineraux D'autre part, l'evolution du sol amende par cette biomasse et l'impact sur la production du mais, du riz ou de l'arachide cultives entre les haies ou apres coupe de la jachere ont ete suivis Les effets sur le sol et sur la production des cultures de ce systeme agroforestier sont trop limites ou pas assez rapides pour inciter la majorite des agriculteurs a abondonner leur systeme traditionnel d'abattis-brulis sur jachere spontanee, en revanche, il apparait interessant de produire du bois dans les jacheres avec des especes a croissance rapide

Produire du bois énergie dans les jachères de zone guinéenne. Intérêts et limites à travers l'expérience d'Oumé en Basse Côte d'Ivoire

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Alley cropping with Gliricidia sepium on a high base status soil following forest clearing: effects on soil conditions, plant nutrition and crop yields

Produire du bois énergie dans les jachères de zone guinéenne. Intérêts et limites à travers l'expérience d'Oumé en Basse Côte d'Ivoire