Light distribution at the fruit tree-crop interface and consequences for yield in sloping upland agroforestry.

ABSTRACT: Agroforestry can improve soil conservation and overall farm productivity compared with sole-crop systems, but its benefits are limited by competitive interactions between tree and crop components. Studies on light competition have been performed on relatively flat land, but slope can influence light distribution. Little is known about optimizing light utilization and enhancing system productivity and/or income from agroforestry on sloping land. This study examined how slope influences light distribution and performance of maize and coffee crops in fruit tree-crop agroforestry. Starting hypotheses were that 1) crops upslope of tree rows receive and intercept greater amounts of light than those downslope; and 2) position of the crop is more important for light interception and yield when fru

SUBMITTER: Pham HT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11489345 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature