Welcome to the Agroforestry Word of the Week blog!

We’re making it easy for you to get into the world of agroforestry by sharing common agroforestry terms and examples with you every Wednesday. Subscribe here to receive your weekly word and start building your agroforestry vocabulary and knowledge.

Agroforestry Tree  /ˌaɡrōˈfôrəstrē trē/ – noun  

January 9, 2019

Definition: A tree that is purposefully grown to provide more than one significant contribution to the environment or people’s livelihoods.

Synonym: Multipurpose tree


Example: A popular agroforestry tree is the Sesbania spp. known for its many benefits.Farmers often use it for:

  • Alley Cropping: Sesbania is easy to establish, it grows rapidly, and coppices readily, providing high-nutrient mulch and making it a promising tree for alley cropping.

  • Soil Reclamation: It is commonly planted on fallow land because of its fast growth and nitrogen-fixing characteristics. Harvested leaves and stems make a rich compost or green fertilizer.

  • Wood: Highly coppiceable, it is a popular source for fuelwood and charcoal because it produces a high amount of woody biomass in a short time which, although soft, is relatively smokeless, quick kindling, and hot burning. 


Comments
Proud to be part of this platform
Paul Mukiibi - 23 Sep 2020
Proud to be part of this platform
Paul Mukiibi - 23 Sep 2020