scholarly journals Net Energy Balance and Fuel Quality of an Alley Cropping System Combining Grassland and Willow: Results of the 2nd Rotation

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1272
Author(s):  
Ilze Dzene ◽  
Frank Hensgen ◽  
Rüdiger Graß ◽  
Michael Wachendorf

With the central aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, agroforestry systems have become popular because they can provide biomass for bioenergy conversion and thus help replace fossil energy. This article compares the net energy balances of three biomass conversion techniques for an agroforestry system consisting of willows and two types of grassland biomass as well as separate stands of grassland and willow. The period of investigation was the second willow rotation (4–6 years after establishment). The biomass conversion techniques included combustion of hay (CH), integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass (IFBB), and anaerobic whole crop digestion (WCD). Compared to the first rotation (years 1–3), the net energy yield of the willow stands significantly increased. Nevertheless, the separate stand of willow had higher net energy yield than the agroforestry system. The IFBB technique led to an improvement in solid fuel quality through demineralization. CH and IFBB provided higher net energy yields than WCD.

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Eldin Mohammed Fadl ◽  
Ali Elamin Abdallah Ahmed

This study was conducted in Eltemada, Boli and Umghoghai villages at Babanosa area in El-salam locality, South Kordofan State during 2012 and 2013. The objectives were to (1) identify and assess the most important agroforestry systems, (2) to investigate the main factors that affecting the sustainability of the systems, (3) to determine the important field crops that cultivated with trees and (4) to evaluate the effect of the agroforestry systems on the yield of the traditional field crops. For accomplishment of these study 80 questioners was designed and distributed in the selected villages. After the data collection data was analyzed by using descriptive statistic. The results showed that the most important agroforestry systems in the study area are parkland cropping system (58%), boundary planting (26%), wind-breaks (13%) and alley cropping (3%).The most important forest trees in the study area are Acacia senegal (32%), Ziziphus spina- christia (28%), Balanites aegeyptiaca (26%), Sclerocary birrea and Guera senegalensis (3%). The main field crops in the study area are groundnut (44%), sorghum (35%) and roselle (21%). The results showed that yield of groundnut and sorghum is higher under agroforestry systems compared with the mono-cropping system. The results showed that the majority of respondents (70%) prefer to cultivate field crops in agroforestry system, while (30%) prefer to cultivate the field crops in a mono-cropping system. The cultivation methods used in the study area include shifting cultivation (52%), mono-cropping (36%) and intercropping (12%).The majority of respondents (94%) showed that trees improve soil fertility in their farm land. The benefits from trees in farm land include improvement of soil properties (36%), protecting the farm land from wind erosion (28%), improvement of micro-climate (24%) and source of income which was indicated by (12%) of the respondents. The study recommended that modern agroforestry system such as improved fallow system and alley cropping should be introduced in the study area and multi-purpose trees such as Acacia senegal, Fedherbia albida and Sclerocarya birrea that improve soil fertility and diversify farmers income should be maintained. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i2.12633 International Journal of Environment Vol.4(2) 2015: 136-146


2020 ◽  
Vol 181 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Punchaluck Sirinwaranon ◽  
Duangduen Atong ◽  
Viboon Sricharoenchaikul

Cassava rhizome (CR) was torrefied to provide superior solid fuel quality for further gasification process. The torrefaction was carried out in the absence of oxygen at 220, 240, 260, and 280°C with a fixed residence time. Solid fuel after torrefaction has a higher calorific value from that of reduced volatile matters. The optimum energy yield of torrefied CR is 88.16% at 260°C. The heating value of 20.86 MJ/kg for a torrefied product can be achieved compared to 15.37 MJ/kg for untreated CR. The subsequent gasification of torrefied CR at temperature of 800°C yielded the highest gas product of 65 wt.%. The carbon and hydrogen conversions into CO and H2 were 14.28% and 29.95%, respectively. Synthesis gas (syngas) from the conversion maintained the H2/CO ratio of around 2–2.50, which is suitable for the Fischer–Tropsch process or can be used as the feedstock for petrochemical industry.


Author(s):  
M. N. Danjuma ◽  
S. Mohammed ◽  
M. Z. Karkarna

The aim of this study is to assess agroforestry practices in Northwestern Nigeria with a view to bringing to light some salient features of the system for maximising benefits and improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the study area. A total of one hundred and sixty six smallholder farmers were sampled using random technique from five hundred and fifty farmers’ listed by the contact forum in the study area. Questionnaire was administered to the one hundred and sixty six smallholder farmers with a view to examining the level of farmers’ participation in agroforestry in six villages namely Kabobi and Garki in Katsina State, Bulangu and Abonabo in Jigawa State, Bobo in Zamfara State and Gulma in Kebbi State. Interview was also conducted with ten farmers in Bulangu, Kabobi and Gulma to provide explanations on the limitation to acceptance of agroforestry innovations in the study area. Data collected with the questionnaire was analysed using simple percentage and frequency in order to measure dispersion among sampled farmers. Data collected from the interview was coded, transcribed and presented in textual form in the paper. Result of the study revealed that seven agroforestry systems (alley cropping, boarder line planting, scattered planting, woodlot, apiculture, orchard and home garden) were practiced in the area. Orchard and home garden were not practiced in Kabobi, the northern most of the villages. It also indicated farmers’ level of participation for the seven identified technologies as follows: Alley cropping (25.63%), boarder line planting (16.25%), scattered trees on farmland (36.25%), woodlot (1.25%), orchard (1.88%), apiculture (8.75%) and home gardens (10.00%). The key factors limiting acceptance of innovations include: l) lack of tree seedling (25.00%), land tenure issues (17.50%), long tree gestation period of indigenous species (50.63%) and insect attack (06.88%). This study recommended that farmers should be educated more on agroforestry technologies through mass media programmes and ICT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Romnick Baliton ◽  
LEILA LANDICHO ◽  
Rowena Esperanza Cabahug ◽  
ROSELYN F. PAELMO ◽  
Kenneth Laruan ◽  
...  

Abstract. Baliton RS, Landicho LD, Cabahug RED, Paelmo RF, Laruan KA, Rodriguez RS, Visco RG, Castillo AKA. 2020. Ecological services of agroforestry systems in selected upland farming communities in the Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 707-717. A study was conducted in three selected upland farming communities in Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet and Quezon, Philippines to assess the ecological services of agroforestry systems. Results showed that alley cropping was the dominant agroforestry system in Nueva Vizcaya, while vegetable-based and coffee-based multistorey systems were found prevailing in Benguet and Quezon provinces. Agrobiodiversity assessment revealed that the values of Shannon-Wiener diversity index of agroforestry systems in the three study sites were considered to be low to moderate, ranging from 2.21 to 2.71. This validates that the number of individuals per species in the agroforestry landscape was not evenly distributed. The means of biomass in the three study sites, ranging from 106.22-127 tons ha-1, were higher than that of agroforestry systems (102.80 tons ha-1) in the Philippines. The agroforestry systems in Nueva Vizcaya had the largest carbon stock of 57.15 ton C ha-1, followed by Quezon 52.96 ton C ha-1 and Benguet 47.80 ton C ha-1. These results are comparable to the overall mean of carbon stock of tree plantations (59.0 ton C ha-1) and higher than that of agroforestry systems in the Philippines, i.e., 45.4 ton C ha-1. Therefore, this article argues that the different agroforestry systems provide ecological services in the upland farming communities in the Philippines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-125
Author(s):  
AK Das ◽  
MA Rahman ◽  
SR Saha ◽  
NS Sarmin ◽  
MA Hoque ◽  
...  

Sustainable agricultural practices like agroforestry systems are being advocated to overcome various problems of farming. A young malta (Citrus sinensis) orchard (3 years old) was transformed into a fruit tree-based agroforestry system in which the performances of summer (okra and Indian spinach) and autumn (mungbean and kangkong) crops and year-round spices (ginger and turmeric) were evaluated following randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication each and eventually compared between agroforestry systems and respective sole cropping (control) from March 2018 to February 2019 at BSMRAU field. The experimental results revealed that the yields of the associated crops deprived when grown at the closest row position from the bed of malta tree and spices. Yields of okra, Indian spinach, mungbean, kangkong, turmeric and ginger were reduced by 7.57, 6.52, 14.86, 13.26, 9.70 and 16.23%, respectively under agroforestry system as compared to control. However, malta yield was increased by 5.35% in agroforestry system than control trees. The findings also indicated that the crops in agroforestry system was less hindered by the shade effect of malta trees due to less dense canopy of young malta trees. In comparison to sole cropping system, the higher benefit-cost ratio (BCR) (2.93) and land equivalent ratio (LER) (2.83) were obtained in the studied agroforestry system that explicated higher system productivity and land uses. Notable improvement of total nitrogen and organic matter were obtained in the soil under agroforestry system. Therefore, malta-based agroforestry system can be a promising alternative to provide higher economic benefits, boosting food and nutritional security, improving soil nutrient status and utilization of land. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(1) : 113-125


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1819
Author(s):  
Rüdiger Graß ◽  
Sarah Malec ◽  
Michael Wachendorf

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) are promoted as environmentally friendly and climate-change-resilient cultivation systems with the potential of increasing ecosystem services. Especially under temperate climatic conditions, the implementation in agricultural practice is low so far, inter alia due to the lack of knowledge regarding longer-term effects of such systems. This study investigated biomass yields and crop development during the second rotation of an alley cropping system with willows (clone “Tordis” ((Salix schwerinii x S. viminalis) x S. vim.)) and grassland that was established in March 2011, as reported in a former study of the authors. Two grassland swards (white clover grass (Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L.) (CG) and a diversity mixture with 32 plant species (DIV)) were proven in an intensive (3/4 cuts per year) and extensive management system (two cuts per year). Total yield (sum of three years) of AFS increased substantially in the second rotation (year four to six after establishment of the AFS). This was particularly due to a fivefold increase in woody biomass. At the same time, yields of grassland biomass decreased slightly. Biomass of CG outperformed DIV, especially in the intensive managed systems with a dry matter (DM) yield of 18 t ha−1, compared to 12.6 t ha−1. However, AFS grassland yields were always lower than yields of reference areas with grassland in pure stand. Nevertheless, lower yields are probably caused by competition effects between woody crops and grassland. Grassland yields along transects across the grassland alleyways showed a strong decrease in the border areas in all treatments. Higher grassland yields in the alley center did not compensate yield reductions in border areas. Furthermore, the botanical composition of grassland was modified in border areas with reduced legume DM contribution and increases of both grasses and forbs. Thus, the width of grassland alleys with 9 m caused strong competition effects by the willows.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Mantino ◽  
Iride Volpi ◽  
Martina Micci ◽  
Giovanni Pecchioni ◽  
Simona Bosco ◽  
...  

Agroforestry is indicated as a farming practice suited to enhance ecosystem services generated by cropping systems. However, farmers are often reluctant to implement agroforestry systems due to the potential yield loss of crops. In a field trial, soybean was intercropped with poplar short-rotation-coppice rows in an alley-cropping system with 13.5 m wide alleys, in order to assess the effect of tree presence on soybean yield and quality. The light availability (LA) was significantly affected by the tree presence, with an increasing effect along the season due to tree growth, being at its lowest in the tree–crop interface positions (West and East). Significant effects of the tree-distance and LA were registered on soybean yield, with the highest reduction of soybean yield in the West (−78%) and East (−35%) positions. Crude fat content in soybean grain did not vary among positions in the alley, while crude protein content was the lowest in the most shaded position (West −8% than the highest value). The assessment of spatial variability among plots of measured soil characteristics highlighted no significant effect of pedological conditions upon soybean yield. Thus, in our study, the LA effect was more important than soil characteristics in determining a detrimental effect of competition for resources between soybean and poplar. Conversely, soybean quality was affected by soil characteristics, since crude fat significantly correlated with soil nutrients, pH, soil organic matter and soil texture.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
I WAYAN GEDE WIRYANATA ◽  
MADE MIKA MEGA ASTUTHI ◽  
KADEK AYU CHARISMA JULIA DEWI

Differences in Height, Number of Leaves, and Stem Diameter of Corn (Zea mays L.) in Alley Cropping and Intercropping of Agroforestry Systems at the Micro Watershed of Tukad Sumaga Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency. Degraded land as a result of land conversion has a very bad impact on the agro-ecosystem. Land conversion caused by the increasing needs of the population. The majority of the livelihoods of the people in Tukad Sumaga village are farmers. The availability of forage is very important to be maintained. Corn plants, in addition to their production in the form of corn, forage fodder on corn plants are very important for the availability of cattle feed. This research was conducted on 28 DAP maize (Zea mays L.) in alley cropping system and intercropping in the micro watershed of Tukad Sumaga Village. The results showed that the highest average plant height, leaf number, and corn stalk diameter were found in the alley cropping system namely 1.03 m, 7.31, and 1.59 cm. There was no significant difference between the height of corn plants in alley cropping and intercropping systems. There is a significant difference between the number of leaves and the diameter of the stems of maize in alley cropping and intercropping systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vianney Reinaldo de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Sérgio Lima e Silva ◽  
Haroldo Nogueira de Paiva ◽  
Frederico Silva Thé Pontes ◽  
Rafaela Priscila Antonio

ABSTRACT Forest plantation costs can be reduced by the income from annual crops that are intercropped with trees. An experiment was carried out over two years to assess the viability of agroforestry systems including sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and maize (cultivar AG 1051). In 2010, the legumes were grown both as monocrops and intercropped (taungya system) with maize in randomized blocks with five replications. Three rows of maize were planted between two rows of each legume (at a spacing of 4.0 m x 4.0 m). In 2011, the legumes were cut down, and the young branches and leaves were added to the areas of intercropped cultivation (alley cropping system). Gliricidia had lower plant height than sabiá. Moreover, while not affecting for gliricidia, intercropping increased plant height for sabiá. Intercropping reduced green ear yield but not grain yield and reduced the cost of introducing reforestation. Intercropping using the alley system reduced the total number and mass of green ears, as well as grain yield, but did not influence the yield of marketable green ears. Finally, producing green ears was more profitable than producing grain and maize monocropping provided a higher net income than intercropping.


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