Globally, forests hold more than 75% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity but between 2010 and 2015, about 3.3 million hectares of forest lands were lost. The conversion of forest to agricultural land was a major reason for biodiversity losses in tropic s where most of the world's biodiversity reserves are found. High population growth in the regions causes loss of biodiversity. Currently, biodiversity conservation and mitigation of climate changes are environmental challenges. To reduce deforestation, farmers integrate trees on their farmland to acquire ecological, economic and social benefits from natural forests and woodlands. Thus, the aim of this paper is reviewing the benefit of parkland agroforestry practices on biodiversity conservation. Parkland agroforestry practices have given more emphasis to climate amelioration, fertility improvement, water conservation, and biodiversity improvement. The practice is known by growing scattered trees on farmland by integrating annual crops; which maintains species diversity. Their rich diversity makes them ecologically resilient and provides more and better ecological functions. Parkland agroforestry practices reduce deforestation and pressure on protected forests by providing alternative bioenergy, timber and other forest products from farmers' fields. Moreover, it is used as an ecological corridor allowing species to move between habitats. In other ways, the interactions between tree, crop and livestock components in parkland agroforestry can be positive, negative or neutral. Biodiversity conservation has an effect on ecological interaction under parkland agroforestry. Thus, promoting parkland agroforestry practices plays a role in the conservation of biodiversity in varieties of ways if implemented based on the principles that control leaving bare land.
The conversion of an agroforestry based agricultural system to monocropping farming system influences the distribution and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The objective of this paper was to analyze AMF species diversity, spore density and root colonization across different agroforestry practices (AFP) in southern Ethiopia. Soil and root samples were collected from homegarden, cropland, woodlot, and trees on soil and water conservation based AFP. AMF spores were extracted from the soil and species diversity evaluated using morphological analysis and root colonization from root samples. The spore density, root colonization and the composition of AMF were significantly different among the AFP (P < 0.05). In this study, a total of 43 AMF morphotypes belonging to 11 genera were identified, dominated by Acaulospora (32.56%) followed by Claroideoglomus (18.60%). Homegardens had the highest spore density (7641.5 spore100 g− 1 dry soil) and the lowest was recorded in croplands (683.6 spore100 g− 1 dry soil). Woodlot had the highest root colonization (54.75%) followed by homegarden (48.25%). The highest isolation frequency (63.63%) was recorded for Acaulospora scrobiculata. Distribution of AMF species and diversity were significantly related to soil total nitrogen and organic carbon. The homegarden and woodlot AFP were suitable for soil AMF reserves and conservation.
<p>The conversion of natural ecosystems for agricultural production is changing the world's landscapes in pervasive ways. The severity of land degradation in southern Ethiopia has increased at an alarming rate due to high population density which has replaced the old agroforestry (AF) farming system with monocropping. One of the most significant consequences of these activities combined with climate change has been the reduction of biodiversity and land productivity <sup>(1)</sup>. Among others, soil glomalin, soil aggregation and aggregate stability are parameters related to soil health that are affected by land use change . To curb such problems, AF is proposed as an adequate system, since it is an alternative cultivation system based on an ecological and economically sustainable strategy <sup>(2)</sup>. This study was aimed to determine the effect of agroforestry practices (AFPs) on soil glomalin, soil aggregate stability (SAS) and aggregate association with soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil samples and woody species with plant height at breast height (DBH) were collected from homegarden based agroforestry practice (HAFP), cropland based agroforestry practice (ClAFP), woodlot based agroforestry practice (WlAFP) and trees on soil and water conservation based agroforestry practice (TSWAFP) using systematic sampling techniques. The data was analyzed by two way ANOVA and linear regression model by using R 4.2.1 software. &#160;In this study, both easily extractable glomalin related soil protein (EEGRSP) and total glomalin related soil protein (TGRSP) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in HAFP compared to AFPs, the EEGRSP and TGRSP which decreased in the order of HAFP>WlAFP>TSWAFP>ClAFP at upper surface . On the other hand, the macroaggregate fraction of all AFPs ranged from 22.6-36.5% (for 0-30cm) where the lowest was in ClAFP, while the highest was in HAFP. The micro-aggregate fraction ranged from 15.9&#8211;24.6%, where the lowest was in HAFP, but the highest was in ClAFP. The results also indicated that the comparison of SAS with SOC showed relatively higher SOC in macroaggregates than in micro-aggregates. Besides, both macro and micro-aggregate-associated with SOC was higher in HAFP than other three AFPs but SAS decreased with the increasing of soil depths. The results regarding the association of SOC with both macro and micro-aggregates was greatest in HAFP followed by WlAFP. The findings also elucidated that woody species diversity, richness and key soil parameters were strongly related with the EEGRSP, TGRSP, and SAS distribution. Thus, the management practices of AFP could influence the woody species diversity and richness, this, in turn, can influence glomalin and SAS. This implies that AFP can play an important role on the maintenance of soil biodiversity, enriching glomalin and other soil quality parameters with future implications for stable ecosystem.</p> <p><sup>(1)</sup>Bhagwat et al, 2008. Trends in ecology & evolution, 23, 261-267; <sup>(2)</sup>Wall et, 2015. Nature,, 528, 69-76.</p> <p>The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) and Structural Funds 2014&#8211;2020 (ERDF and ESF) project AGRISOST CM S2018/BAA&#8208;4330</p> <p>&#160;</p>
The conversion of natural lands to agricultural uses is a significant threat to soil biodiversity. Within agriculture, monoculture based systems are the most common which often result in low biodiversity because they impact the abundance, diversity, and composition of soil macrofauna (SMF). The objective of this paper was to analyze SMF abundance and diversity across different agroforestry practices (AFP) in the drylands of southern Ethiopia. The soil monolith and soil samples were collected from homegarden, cropland, woodlot, and trees on soil and water conservation based AFP using the standard Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute manual, and the identification was done based on morphological characteristics and standard identification keys. The abundance, occurrence, and community composition of SMF were significantly different across the different AFPs (P < 0.05). In this study, 378 SMF belonging to 13 families, including unnamed were identified. The soil ecosystem of AFP was dominated by earthworms (relative abundance = 0.43), followed by termites (relative abundance = 0.12). The homegarden AFP type had a significantly higher number of SMF occurrence index of 46.03 (174), followed by woodlot, 26.72 (101) practices, and the lowest was recorded under cropland, 12.70 (48). The abundance, diversity, richness, and similarity of SMF were significantly related to soil total nitrogen and organic carbon. Phosphorus and pH were significantly related to the abundance and richness of SMF. The homegarden and woodlot AFP types were suitable for SMF biodiversity conservation.
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