Agroforestry & Soil Health

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Review Principles to Improve Soil Health

1. Minimize Soil Disturbance 2. Keep the Soil Covered at all Times – litter, stabilize soil, OM inputs

3. Keep Living Roots in the Soil – volume, exudates, soil biology

4. Maximize Diversity Forestry vs. agroforestry Agroforestry: farming systems that integrate trees w/ crops and livestock for environmental, economic & social benefits

Trees: Environmental Services + NTFP

• Shade • Weed control • Erosion control • Wind protection • Noise, dust or odor barriers • Wildlife & pollinator habitat • Fruits, nuts, spices aka “NTFP” species

Common Agroforestry Systems • Windbreaks & shelterbelts • Multi-Story Cropping & Forest Farming • Mixed Agroforests a.k.a. Home gardens

Less Common Agroforestry Systems • Silvopasture • Alley Cropping • Riparian Forest Buffer

http://www.agroforest.info

NRCS Conservation Practices for Agroforestry

Practice names: Fore

st F

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Hom

e G

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Win

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Silv

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Alle

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Ripa

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Fore

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Tree/Shrub Site PreparationWoody Residue TreatmentTree/Shrub EstablishmentMulti-Story CroppingWindbreak/Shelterbelt EstablishmentSilvopasture EstablishmentAlley CroppingRiparian Forest BufferConservation CoverMulchingWindbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation

Mechanized site preparation – Oahu

Manual site preparation and woody residue treatment – American Samoa

Mixed agroforest with contour vegetative barriers – American Samoa

Multi-species / multi-row shelterbelt (windbreak) – Oahu

Banana (plus mango, avocado, jackfruit) windbreak for taro field – Oahu Note: gaps in windbreak are larger than desirable

Silvopasture – Tinian

Home garden - Pohnpei

Multi-Story Cropping with banana, breadfruit, kava, coconut & annual crops - Pohnpei

Forest Farming: Acacia koa over coffee – Big Island

Multi-Story Cropping or Forest Farming: Mahogany & Cacao – Big Island Note: planting densities of timber and crop trees are not highly compatible

http://www.agroforest.info

Read this for more details!

NRCS Oahu Field Office Bernadette.Luncsford@hi.usda.gov 541-2600 x109

NRCS State Office Michael.Constantinides@hi.usda.gov 541-2600 x122

Pau

Strategies for Converting to Agroforestry Systems • DIY is great ……. to a point • Bite sized chunks – scale project to capacity • Herbicides • Planting plan - trees and shrubs can be big critters • Start on your own then engage services of NRCS later

– Convert non-invasive eucalyptus forest to agroforestry system – Install coffee or cacao then seek assistance for shade overstory later

• NRCS PIA Forestry / Agroforestry Tech. Note 11 – “Mixed Agroforests”

• Agroforestry & wildlife – limited opportunities (WHAG) include – Native insects and insect pollinators – Tree roosting species