Farmer knowledge of the relationships among soil macrofauna, soil quality and tree species in a smallholder agroforestry system of western Honduras

Pauli, Natasha; Barrios, Edmundo; Conacher, Arthur; Oberthür, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.05.027

Cited by 46 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…Farmers' knowledge of tree-crop interactions is fairly consistent with findings on the advantageous and disadvantageous ecological interactions between shade trees and crops (see Beer 1987, Beer et al 1997. Similarly to other studies (Young 1988, Cerdán et al 2012, Pauli et al 2012, we found that farmers prefer multipurpose trees; that is, trees that contribute more than one significant product and/or service due to the presence of multiple utilitarian functional traits.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Farmers' preferred tree species occur at significantly higher abundance in coffee agroforests than in forests Studies that have investigated farmers' tree preferences have suggested that although farmers may have a set of preferred trees, agroforests are not necessarily dominated by preferred trees and that tree species considered undesirable are often tolerated (Albertin and Nair 2004, SotoPinto et al 2007, Pauli et al 2012; however, field tree inventories were not conducted or were insufficient to support these claims. Our field inventories suggest that farmers' management and selection choices are resulting in an increase in the abundance of adult trees and saplings of preferred tree species and in a reduction of disliked trees relative to forests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies have found that farmers select shade trees based on their compatibility with crops by assessing traits such as crown shape, shade production, deciduousness, foliage density, root system attributes, and allelopathic effects (Albertin and Nair 2004, SotoPinto et al 2007, Souza et al 2010, Anglaaere et al 2011, Cerdán et al 2012). Farmers also demonstrate detailed knowledge about the effects of tree cover on ecosystem services (Cerdán et al 2012), such as soil fertility (Grossman 2003, Pauli et al 2012) and pest control (Segura et al 2004). The limitation of these studies is that the consequences of findings in the social system (i.e., farmers' knowledge, shade tree preferences) on the ecological system (i.e., changes in tree species abundance) are seldom investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

et al. 2015

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Citation: Valencia, V., P. West, E. Sterling, L. García-Barrios, and S. Naeem. 2015. The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity. Ecosphere 6(7):122. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1890/ES14-00428.1Abstract. In agroforestry systems, the survival of shade trees is often the result of farmers' deliberate selection. Therefore, how communities generate knowledge and apply it to resource management practices influence the potential for biodiversity conservation of agroforestry systems. In this study, we investigated the use of knowledge by farmers to manage coffee (Coffea arabica) agroforests and the consequences for the conservation of tree biodiversity and composition of surrounding forests. We interviewed 50 coffee farmers to investigate their shade tree preferences and sources of knowledge of the properties of shade trees and coffee management practices; we also conducted tree inventories in 31 coffee farms and 10 forest sites in La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico. Our results showed that farmers are modifying agroforests according to their knowledge and tree preferences, and that the resulting agroforest is lower in tree diversity and dominated by pioneer and farmers' preferred tree species as compared to forests. The principal sources of knowledge of management practices are external sources, such as governmental and non-governmental organizations, whereas the primary source of tree specific knowledge is empirical knowledge. We found that the higher proportion of pioneer trees relative to forest is mostly explained by farmers' tree selection decisions (63%) rather than as a byproduct of management practices (37%) that disturb the soil and open the canopy, altering light penetration and microclimate conditions. Based on interviews and tree inventories, we found that farmers gradually replace canopy trees of neutral and disliked species by preferred species, in particular Inga spp. We found that external sources continue to promote the idea that Inga spp. trees bring significant benefits to coffee production in spite of a lack of scientific evidence to support this claim. This indicates that farmers are receptive to incorporate outside knowledge into their knowledge systems and adapt their resource management practices accordingly. Our findings highlight the importance of disseminating sound and clear scientific information to practitioners who work directly with farming communities to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is being contributed to local knowledge systems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

et al. 2015

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“…Research addressing key questions on the link between plantsoil feedbacks and the provision of ecosystem services (van der Putten et al 2013;Bardgett and van der Putten 2014) should be conducted at scales relevant to management and this can be facilitated by integrating local and scientific spatial variability information on 'hot spots' of soil biological activity (Barrios 2007;Pauli et al 2010Pauli et al , 2012Barrios et al 2012;Kamau et al 2017). Furthermore, focusing on functions that are relatively specific, such as the roles of ecosystem engineers or specific nutrient transformations, would help with achieving more reliable assessments of the linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services (Giller et al 2005;Balvanera et al 2016).…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunities To An Ecological Intensificatiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of trees to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes

Barrios

Valencia

Jonsson

et al. 2017

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

139

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The production of sufficient food for an increasing global population while conserving natural capital is a major challenge to humanity. Tree-mediated ecosystem services are recognized as key features of more sustainable agroecosystems but the strategic management of tree attributes for ecosystem service provision is poorly understood. Six agroforestry and tree cover transition studies, spanning tropical/subtropical forest zones in three continents, were synthesized to assess the contribution of tree cover to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Loss of native earthworm populations resulted in 76% lower soil macroporosity when shade trees were absent in coffee agriculture. Increased tree cover contributed to 53% increase in tea crop yield, maintained 93% of crop pollinators found in the natural forest and, in combination with nearby forest fragments, contributed to as much as 86% lower incidence for coffee berry borer. In certain contexts, shade trees contributed to negative effects resulting from increases in abundance of white stem borer and lacebugs and resulted in 60% reduction of endangered tree species compared to forest. Managing trees for ecosystem services requires understanding which tree species to include and how to manage them for different socio-ecological contexts. This knowledge needs to be shared and translated into viable options with farming communities. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…Smallholders often integrate their observations of biophysical processes with external sources of information (from other farmers, extension agents, etc.) to guide farm-related management decisions (Pauli et al 2012, Villamor et al 2014, Mulyoutami et al 2015. There is also a growing body of literature exploring the role of local knowledge for sustainable farm development (e.g., Isaac et al 2009, Raymond et al 2010, Meijer et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmer perceptions of plant–soil interactions can affect adoption of sustainable management practices in cocoa agroforests: a case study from Southeast Sulawesi

Wartenberg¹,

Blaser²,

Janudianto³

et al. 2018

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Despite extensive research focused on increasing the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems in the tropics, adoption rates of improved management solutions often remain low among smallholder farmers. To address this, we evaluated how local knowledge and perceptions influenced decision-making processes among smallholder cocoa farmers. We conducted individual semistructured interviews with 72 cocoa farmers in Southeast Sulawesi and documented local knowledge about soil fertility indicators, nutrient cycling processes, and the interactions among shade trees, cocoa trees, and soils in cocoa agroforests. We further collected data regarding farmers' fertilizer preferences, additional income sources, and perceived barriers to improved cocoa production. We found that farmers' understanding of biophysical interactions in Southeast Sulawesi was comprehensive, mostly accurately aligned with scientific literature, and sometimes provided additional complementary knowledge. Cocoa farmers in Southeast Sulawesi approached decision making in a holistic way, integrating personal observations, information from external sources, and socioeconomic limitations and priorities. This finding highlights the value of flexible conservation farming approaches that allow farmers to minimize trade-offs and prioritize their households' needs. Finally, we identify a "dual" knowledge gap on the part of farmers and scientists regarding the direct benefits of shade tree inclusion for improved yields and income security. Addressing this through further research and targeted knowledge dissemination could contribute to an increase in the long-term adoption rates of more sustainable cocoa cultivation practices.

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Farmer knowledge of the relationships among soil macrofauna, soil quality and tree species in a smallholder agroforestry system of western Honduras

Cited by 46 publications

References 44 publications

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

Contribution of trees to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes

Farmer perceptions of plant–soil interactions can affect adoption of sustainable management practices in cocoa agroforests: a case study from Southeast Sulawesi

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Farmer knowledge of the relationships among soil macrofauna, soil quality and tree species in a smallholder agroforestry system of western Honduras

Cited by 46 publications

References 44 publications

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

Contribution of trees to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes

Farmer perceptions of plant&#8211;soil interactions can affect adoption of sustainable management practices in cocoa agroforests: a case study from Southeast Sulawesi

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Farmer perceptions of plant–soil interactions can affect adoption of sustainable management practices in cocoa agroforests: a case study from Southeast Sulawesi