Table 1 Classification of agroforestry systems based on the type of components, according to Nair [14]
Type of system | Major groups of components | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
w: woody | h: herbaceous | f: fodder for grazing | a: animals | |
Agrisilvicultural systems: crops—including shrub/vine/tree crops—and trees | ||||
Improved fallow | Fast-growing preferably leguminous | Common agricultural crops | / | / |
Taungaya | spp. for plantation forestry | Common agricultural crops | / | / |
Alley cropping | Fast-growing, leguminous, vigorous regrowth/ coppicing | Common agricultural crops | / | / |
Multilayer tree gardens | Woody components of varying form and growth habits | Sometimes shade tolerant spp. | / | / |
Multipurpose trees on crop lands | Multipurpose and fruit trees | Common agricultural crops | / | / |
Plantation crop combinations | Timber, fruit, and multipurpose service trees; plantation crops like coffee, cacao, coconut, rubber, black pepper, etc | Usually shade tolerant spp., | / | / |
Homegardens | Fruit trees predominate; also, other woody species, vines, etc | Shade tolerant agricultural species | / | / |
Trees in soil conservation and reclamation | Multipurpose and/or fruit trees | Common agricultural species | / | / |
Shelterbelts and windbreaks, live hedges | Combination of tall-growing spreading types | Agricultural crops of the locality | / | / |
Fuelwood production | Firewood species | Agricultural crops of the locality | / | / |
Silvopastoral systems: trees + pasture and/or animals | ||||
Trees on rangeland or pastures | Multipurpose; of fodder value | / | Present | Present |
Protein banks | Leguminous fodder trees | Present | Present | / |
Plantation crops with pastures and animals | Plantation crops | / | Present | Present |
Agrosilvopastoral systems: trees + crops + pasture/animals | ||||
Homegardens with animal production | Often dominated by fruit trees, woody vines | Shade-tolerant vegetables and medicinal plants | / | Minor species, specialty markets |
Multipurpose woody hedgerows and riparian buffers | Fast-growing and coppicing fodder shrubs and trees | Agricultural crops | / | Grazing and browsing animals |
Apiculture with trees on farmlands | Melliferous tree species of complementary phenology | Bee-pollinated crops, e.g., cucurbits | / | / |
Aqua agroforestry | Trees and shrubs producing leaves and fruits for fish | / | / | Fish, shrimps, etc |
Multipurpose woodlots | Multipurpose, leguminous, timber, fruit, etc | Shade-tolerant crops | / | Various |