Ecological Basis of Agroforestry

Drawing on the collective expertise of world authorities in the field, this comprehensive volume employs extensive use of tables and figures to demonstrate how ecologically sustainable agroecosystems can meet the challenges of enhancing crop productivity, soil fertility, and environmental sustainability. Divided into four sections, this book studies tree-crop interactions in tropical and temperate climates. It covers above and below ground interactions, alley cropping, tri-trophic interactions, ecologically based pest management, and the chemistry and practical potential of chemically mediated plant interactions. It demonstrates computer modeling to predict effective designs, and addresses the socio-economic factors including different farming systems and technological tools.