Agroforestry Systems

Agroforestry systems are broadly classified based on the components involved (agriculture, forestry, pasture, livestock), their arrangement (spatial/temporal), and function.

1️. Agri-silvicultural Systems

Combination of agricultural crops + trees/shrubs on the same land.

• Examples in India:
  • Taungya system (trees + crops, e.g., teak + maize).
  • Boundary plantations (Eucalyptus, Casuarina on bunds).
  • Agri-horticulture (mango + pulses/oilseeds).
  • Alley cropping (Leucaena leucocephala + annual crops).
• Importance: Provides food, fuel, timber, and soil protection.

2️. Silvi-pastoral Systems

Combination of trees/shrubs + pastures/forages (sometimes livestock included).

• Examples in India:
  • Leucaena + Cenchrus ciliaris.
  • Acacia nilotica + Stylosanthes spp.
  • Prosopis juliflora + buffel grass.
• Importance: Provides fodder, fuelwood, improves degraded lands.

3️. Agri-silvi-pastoral Systems

Combination of crops + trees/shrubs + pastures/animals.

• Examples: Multipurpose trees + cereals/pulses + grasses/legumes (Acacia + sorghum + Cenchrus).
• Importance: Food, fodder, fuel, timber, soil conservation.
• Widely adopted in arid and semi-arid regions.

4️. Agro-horticultural Systems

Fruit trees + crops (annuals/seasonals).

• Examples:
  • Mango + black gram/green gram.
  • Guava + cowpea.
  • Litchi + mustard.
• Importance: Income diversification, food & nutrition security.

5️. Silvo-horticultural Systems

Forest trees + fruit trees grown together.

• Example: Teak + mango orchards.
• Provides timber + fruit income.

6️. Agro-silvo-horticultural Systems; Combination of crops + forest trees + fruit trees. Example: Eucalyptus + guava + groundnut.

7️. Silvi-Apiary System; Trees/shrubs + beekeeping. Trees (neem, eucalyptus, jamun, moringa, etc.) provide nectar for bees. Produces honey + beeswax.

8️. Aqua-forestry System; Trees/shrubs along ponds, canals + fish farming. Example: Acacia/Eucalyptus on bunds + aquaculture.

9️. Agroforestry based on Function

• Productive systems → timber, fruits, fodder.
• Protective systems → shelterbelts, windbreaks, soil conservation hedges.
• Rehabilitative systems → reclaim wastelands, mine spoils, degraded lands.

Key Examples in India

• Taungya system: Teak + crops (U.P., Kerala).
• Shifting cultivation (Jhum): NE India (traditional).
• Homegardens: Kerala (coconut + banana + pepper + vegetables).
• Silvi-pastoral: Acacia + Cenchrus (Rajasthan).
• Agri-horti: Mango + legumes (U.P., Bihar).

Key Facts 

• Main classification:
  • Agri-silvicultural
  • Silvi-pastoral
  • Agri-silvi-pastoral
    (These are the 3 broadest categories).
• India’s National Agroforestry Policy launched in 2014.
• Agroforestry carbon sequestration: ~0.25–0.60 Mg C/ha/year in tropics.
• ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre) is the global research hub.