Agroforestry refers to the integration of trees in an agricultural operation,combining the production of annual agricultural activities (such as crops and pasture) and delayed long-term production by trees (for example timber and oil) on the same plot of land.
- plots that combine arable intercrops with forestry trees are known as silvoarable
- plots with pasture under the tree canopy are known as silvopastoral
- Moringa and Pongamia can be used in both situations depending on landholders individual requirements.
- Agro-Forestry enhances wildlife values by providing food sources and habitat for insects and other wildlife.
Agro-Forestry enhances wildlife values by providing food sources and habitat for insects and other wildlife.
In general terms Agroforestry provides broader land use options compared with traditional farming and forestry systems. It makes use of the complementarity between trees and crops, or trees and animals so that available resources can be more effectively employed.
The integration of animals and trees has the potential to increase agricultural production in the long term and to be sustainable. When tree systems are integrated with food production, increased farm outputs, increased productivity, economic profitability, vastly lowered fertiliser use and enhanced ecosystem function are all observed. Chemical use can be completely eradicated.
Today Agroforestry is perhaps the fastest growing sector of the sustainable farming movement around the world.
Agricultural systems utilising Pongmia/Moringa as Agroforestry species can be highly productive and can generate continuous revenue – not always possible when arable land is exclusively reforested.
Silvo-pastoral Agroforestry benefits animals and the environment.
The Advantages of Agroforestry
When compared with a monoculture like a field of corn or soybeans, Pongamia and Moringa integration can result in:
- more biodiversity and associated wildlife habitat
- less soil erosion and chemical runoff
- less sedimentation to waterways (useful in cattle feed-lot and dairying operations)
- more carbon sequestration and greater associated fertility.
Some of the benefits to humanity include:
- watershed protection
- oil conservation
- aesthetic values
- ]wildlife values
- carbon storage.
Moringa can easily be grown in urban situations where it does not require much space.
At Sustainable Plantations our goal is to regenerate landscapes and bring them back to a high level of fertility. We are particularly interested in establishing plantations in areas of seasonal rain and with lower than average soil fertility. WHY? Because by harnessing the unique abilities of Moringa and Pongamia in conjunction with biological management we can speed the restoration of degraded landscapes to functionality and profitability.
Pongamia and Moringa share some hardy characteristics, both being able to withstand high temperatures and drought conditions, largely because of their long tap roots and extensive networks of lateral roots.. Pongamia, as a Nitrogen fixing tree can supply the extra Nitrogen needed by the Moringa tree. The Moringa tree in turn can be used to enhance the yield of the Pongamia tree.
Sustainable Plantations take the view that trees should not compromise food production or the livelihood of farmers. Any agricultural enterprise must be financially profitable in order to be sustainable. If an operation cannot sustain the family who own and work the land, nobody wins.