Module 1

Agroforestry Systems and Practices

Learning Objectives

In this module, students are able review the different agroforestry systems and practices

A. Agroforestry Systems and Practices in the Philippines

A. Indigenous agroforestry systems

It is now recognized that agroforestry, as a practice has long been present in the tropical world for a
number of centuries. In the Philippines, we have a number of aged-old and also recent agroforestry.

 Rice Terraces-Forest System

The rice terrace of the Ifugao’s in Northern Philippines is probably the most ancient agroforestry
system in the country. The agricultural component is of course the rice planted in the terraces.
The forest component is maintained in the surrounding watersheds to provide irrigation water.

 Fallow System

Fallow or shifting cultivation is considered as the oldest form of agroforestry. Normally, the land
under cultivation is cleared, burned and cropped for a period lasting from two to years. The land
is then “rested” (fallow” or left unattended while the natural vegetation regenerates. During this
period, the soil having been depleted of its fertility during the cropping period regains its fertility
P a g e | 1through the regenerative action of the woody vegetation.

 Naalad System

The Naalad System of Cebu is another practice that features some improvements over the
traditional fallow system. To hasten the rejuvenation of the soil, farmers directly seed the fallow
area with Leucaena leucocephala. This shortens the fallow period from the usual 10-20 years if
farmers rely on natural vegetation to regenerate to only six years. At the end of the fallow
period, the trees are cut and the branches are piled along the contour to form a fascine-like
structure called “balabag” or “babag”. The function of this structure is obviously for soil erosion
control.

 Taungya System

This has been tried by the Bureau of Forest Development with some success. It consists of
growing agricultural crops along with forestry species during the early stages of plantation
development. When the canopy closes and light becomes limiting for the growth of the
agricultural crops, the farmer is transferred to another area that is to be reforested and the same
process is repeated.

 Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT)

This system is pioneered in the Philippines by the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center
(MBLRC) in Davao del Sur. It has evolved into a system that is more complex but the main
strategy is “alley cropping” or the planting of hedgerows along contours to arrest soil erosion.
The alley formed between two hedgerows is planted with agricultural crops.

 The PICOP Model

The PICOP agroforestry system is world famous owing to its successful implementation. It
involves the dividing a ten-hectare area into two, viz., eight hectares for Paraserianthes
falcataria and two hectares for agricultural crop production. The secret of its success is the
strong support given by PICOP especially in marketing.
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 NALCO Silvipastoral System

In this system cattle are raised under lumbang (Aleurites molucana) tree plantations.

 Benguet State University Pine – Coffee System

Several years back, the BSU tried coffee under pines not knowing that they are starting and
agroforestry farm. Now the coffee are bearing fruits and they have interplanted coffee to
additional pine stands

B. Agroforestry Systems and Practices

1. Agrisilvicultural System

This system involves the concurrent production of crops and forest trees. The different forms and
examples of each are:

1.1 Alley cropping system (syn. Hedgerow intercropping)

Under this system, hedges are grown at certain

intervals along the contours. The strips or alleys
between these hedgerows are planted with
agricultural crops (annual and/or perennial crops).
A good example is the Sloping Agricultural Land
Technology or SALT 1.

One to two perennials are grown as hedgerows,

either from seeds or cuttings, along the contours.
Contour lines are located using the A-frame. The
recommended horizontal distance between contour
hedgerows is 4 to 6 or about 1.5 vertical distance.
Thus, at an average of 5 m interval (horizontal
distance) and 1 m width of hedgerows, about 20%
of the total area is occupied by hedgerows. For alleys, the recommended cropping pattern by
SALT is to plant perennial crops every third alley while the rest can be devoted to annuals, or a
ratio of 20% hedgerows, 25% perennial and 55% annuals.

During cropping, the hedgerows should be regularly pruned at about 0.5 m high to minimize
shading of agricultural crops in the alleys. The pruning frequency depends on the coppicing
ability of the hedgerow species. Biomass from pruning can be used as green manure or mulch to
the alley crops or as fodder to livestock. Through time, natural terraces would be formed at the
base of the hedgerows thereby minimizing soil erosion and surface run-off.

The ideal cahracteristics of hedgerow species are: easy to establish (from seed or cutting), fast
growing, good coppicing ability, nitrogen-fixing, deep-rooted and with multiple uses (e.g. green
manure, fodder, etc). Some species recommended for hedgerows are woody perennial such as
Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia congesta, Leuceana leucocephala, Desmodium rensonii, Cassia
spectabilis, Calliandria calothyrsus and some grasses like (Pennisetum purpueum), vetiver
(Vetiveria zizanoides), guina (Panicum maximum) and setaria (Setaria spp.).
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1.2 Multi-storey system

In this system, the canopies of the component species are

arranged to occupy different vertical layers. There are
commonly two layers of canopy but some systems could
have as many as five. Light demanding tree species or
other woody perennials make up the upper layers,
providing partial shade to agricultural crops in the lower
layers. In essence, this system imitates the structure
(multi-layer) and composition (diverse species) of a
tropical rainforest. Examples of these are the coconut-
coffee-pineapple mix in Cavite, Albizia-coffee or cacao in
Mindanao, kakawata-coffee mix in many areas, and home
gardens.

Among of the desirable characteristics of upper canopy trees are: small crown/sparse foliage to
allow some light to pass through, preferably N-fixing and deep-rooted. The most common
species used as nurse trees for coffee and cacao are Gliricidia sepium, Alnus japonica, Leuceana
leucocephala, Erythrina orientalis, Albizia falcataria, Pterocarpus indicus, Albizia procera,
Samanea saman and Sweitenia macrophylla.

1.3 Improved fallow system

In the traditional shifting cultivation, cultivated areas grown with agricultural crops are
abandoned and fallowed for quite sometime to allow rejuvenation of the soil. To shorten the
fallow period, the areas are grown with leguminous trees or vines. Once the soil soil has been
rejuvenated, these areas are again cleared for growing agricultural crops. Hence, this can be
considered an improved version of the traditional shifting cultivation. A good example is the
Naalad farming unique of Barangay Naalad, Naga, Cebu.

In the Naalad-style farming system, ipil-ipil (leucaena leucocephala) is used as fallow species.
Planting of ipil-ipil as fallow species enabled farmers to shorten the fallow period to only five to
six years. At the end of this period, the ipil-ipil trees are cut and the branches are piled along the
contours to form a fascine-like structure locally known as “balabag” or “babag” which traps the
eroded soils. Through time, natural terraces are formed, thus, stabilizing the steep slopes.

1.4 Taungya system

Taungya involves growing of agricultural crops along

with forest tree species during the early stages of forest
plantation development. The farmer participant is
required to tend the forest tree seedlings while retaining
part or all of the agricultural produce. This agreement
usually lasts for two to three years during which the tree
species would grow and expand its canopies. However, as
soon as the tree canopies close such that the light
intensity becomes critically low for crop production, the
farmer-participant transfer to another reforestation area and the same process is repeated. An
example is the Family Approach to Reforestation (FAR) piloted by the then Bureau of Forest
Development.

One of the obvious limitations of this system is the lack of incentives to the farmers. They could
not grow permanent crops since they have to leave as soon as the tree canopies start to close. It
is even distinctive because the more they take care of the area (e.g. weeding and fertilizing their
crops which also favor the trees), the faster the trees grow and therefore the sooner they will
leave. This system can be used but only as a temporary and supplementary source of food or
income.
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1.5 Tree along the farm boundaries

Trees are planted along farm boundaries for several

reasons: as boundary markers, as live fences/hedges,
as live fence posts for tying barbed wires of bamboo
slats, and/or as shelterbelt/windbreak.

When mature, some of these trees can be harvested by

the farmer for posts or light construction material. The prunings can also be utilized as fuelwood,
fodder or green manure.

1.6 Trees as live trellis

Trees are top-pruned (pollarded) to serve as live trellis

for climbing crops. Examples are kakawate, ipil-ipil
or malinger as live trellis for black pepper, ube, beans
etc.

2. Silvipastoral System

In this system, woody perennials are integrated with animal production. The different forms and
examples are:

2.1 Tree-crop grazing system

Animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, etc) are allowed to graze

freely underneath relatively mature tree plantations.
These plantations may be for wood or fruit
plantation.

A good example is the silvipasture scheme of the

Nasipit Lumber Corporation (NALCO) in Agusan.
Under this scheme, the cattles are allowedddd to
graze freely underneath lumbang trees (Aleuretis molucana) where improved forage grasses are
grown. This proved to be practically and economical because the land is being fully utilized
while being maintained and protected. The lumbang trees were established by the company to
supply oil (from the nuts) for its mill.

This system is also ideal for coconut plantations that are abundant in the country.
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2.2 Protein or Fodder bank system

Leguminous fodder trees or shrubs (e.g., ipil-ipil,

kakawate, Desmodium, etc.) maybe established as a
small plots on certain portions of the farm or pasture
areas. They serve as supplementary source of
protein for livestock. They are planted intensively
for maximum fodder production. They are also
fenced off and regularly pruned. The top and
branched pruning are fed to the animals through the
“cut and carry” system.

2.3 Live fence systems

Rows of palatable trees or shrubs are grown around a

certain grassland area enclosing the grazing animals
inside. Aside from the trees’ role as fence, it could
also be managed (e.g. regular top pruning to
encourage more lateral braching) such that the
enclosed animals could browse on the low-lying
braches serving as fodder supplement.

1.4. Alley cropping with improved pasture grasses and/or

other trees or shrubs

Hedgerows of fodder trees or shrubs (e.g. Desmodium

rensonii, ipil-ipil, kakawate, Flemengia congesta,
Sesbania spp., etc.) are planted along contours with
certain intervals. The alley in-between the hedgerows
are grown with improved pasture grasses and/or other
fodder trees or shrubs. Pruning from the hedgerows,
grasses and fodder trees/shrubs are stall-fed to
animals. An example is the Simple Agro-Livestock
Technology (SALT 2) model developed by MBLRC in
Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

2. Agrisilvipastoral System

Involves the production of agricultural crops, trees and animals in the same unit of land. Different
types of agrisilvipastoral system could be formed through the integration of the different forms of
agri-silvicultural and silvipastoral systems. Examples are the:

1.1 Agrisilvicultural system transformed to silvipastoral system

In this system, the original cropping combination involves tree seedlings with annual agricultural
crops as in the taungya system. However, as the trees close their canopies, growing of annual
agricultural crops is no longer recommended. Instead, grasses and vines will take over the forest
floor where animals are allowed to graze freely as in the tree-crop grazing system.
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1.2 Multistorey system plus animals

This practice is similar to the multistorey system described earlier under the agricultural system,
except that grazing animals are added. An example is the coconut-lanzones mixture, with horses
or cattle grazing under them as observed in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

1.3 Alley cropping with pasture grasses and agricultural crops

This is similar to alley cropping with pasture grasses described earlier except that some of the
alleys are also planted with agricultural crops.
2. Integrated Agroforestry Systems

In some cases, agroforestry is integrated with other production systems. Examples are:

2.1 Agroforestry-Tree Plantation Integrated

Production System

This is exemplified by the Sustainable

Agroforestry Land Technology (SALT 3)
model of MBLRC. In this system, the
upper 60% of the hillside are devoted to
small-scale reforestation using one or more
forest tree species for various end-uses
(e.g., sawntimber, polewood, and/or
fuelwood). These tree plantations may be
established at a closer spacing to insure
full stocking. Later on, thinning is
conducted for fuelwood, or poles and posts
for the farmer’s use. When the trees are
already tall, rattan (cane) can be interplanted. Meanwhile, the lower 40% are devoted to food
production where alley cropping systems or SALT 1 are being practiced.

Based on experience of MBLRC, this system could effectively conserve soil and provide
abundant food, wood, and income to hillyland
farmers.

2.2 Agroforestry-Aquaculture-Livestock Integrated

Production Systems

In China, marginal lands near irrigation canals were

excavated for conversion to fishponds. The soils
excavated were used for constructing fishpond dikes.
Landfills for agroforestry crops were planted with
about 8 m intervals to serve as live end poles for tying
wires for the trellis of grapes. Both sides of the dikes
were also planted with sweet potato and used as food
supplement for pigs. Wastes from the pig pens are
channeled directly to the ponds to serve as fertilizer for the phytoplanktons which in turn serves
as food for the fishes being cultured. The ponds are regularly excavated and the silt are used as
fertilizer for agroforestry crops.
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Guide Questions

Answer the following questions in not less than 250 words.

1. What agroforestry systems/s is/are applied in your site? Describe the system/s?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the system/s applied in your site? What can you suggest to
enhance the system/s?
3. From the discussion of agroforestry systems, which do you think is/are applicable in your site? Why?