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Introduction: Climate change (CC) and the increased occurrence of extreme climatic events pose a serious threat to crop yields and their stability worldwide. This study analyzed the CC mitigation potential of an alley cropping system on crop physiological stresses and growth as compared to a monoculture system. Materials and Methods: Growth of winter durum wheat, cultivated alone (agriculture) and in combination with hybrid walnut (agroforestry), was simulated with the Hi-sAFe agroforestry model, as driven by business-as-usual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections, split into three scenarios, representing Past (1951–1990), Present (1991–2030), and Future (2031–2070) climatic conditions. Crop growth and the occurrence of thermal, nitrogen, and water stresses were analyzed. Results: Cold-related stresses were modest in Past and almost disappeared over time. Heat, drought, and nitrogen stresses increased about twofold from Past to Future, but were reduced by 20–35% in agroforestry, already with medium-sized trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) of about 10–15 cm). Crop yields in agriculture increased from Past to the end of Present and then remained stable. This moderately decreased with tree age in agroforestry (especially in Future). Discussion: The impact of CC on the crop was buffered in agroforestry, especially for the most extreme climatic events. The mitigation of crop microclimate and the increased stability of crop yields highlight the potential of agroforestry as a CC adaptation strategy.
Francesco Reyes; Marie Gosme; Kevin Wolz; Isabelle Lecomte; Christian Dupraz. Alley Cropping Mitigates the Impacts of Climate Change on a Wheat Crop in a Mediterranean Environment: A Biophysical Model-Based Assessment. Agriculture 2021, 11, 356 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Reyes, Marie Gosme, Kevin Wolz, Isabelle Lecomte, Christian Dupraz. Alley Cropping Mitigates the Impacts of Climate Change on a Wheat Crop in a Mediterranean Environment: A Biophysical Model-Based Assessment. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (4):356.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Reyes; Marie Gosme; Kevin Wolz; Isabelle Lecomte; Christian Dupraz. 2021. "Alley Cropping Mitigates the Impacts of Climate Change on a Wheat Crop in a Mediterranean Environment: A Biophysical Model-Based Assessment." Agriculture 11, no. 4: 356.
In the face of climate change, more frequent drought events are expected in the Mediterranean regions. Alley cropping is an agroforestry practice that represents a promising adaptation strategy to sustain yield productivity under drier conditions. However, the presence of trees limits the productivity of the intercrop by reducing light availability and by competing for soil water resources, which could potentially exacerbate the yield losses due to drought conditions. Furthermore, the effects of co‐occurring drought and shade stresses on annual crops are still poorly understood. To tackle this issue, we performed a rainfall manipulation experiment on winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown in full‐sun conditions (agricultural control) and under different levels of shade in a 25‐year walnut‐based alley cropping system located in southern France. We evaluated first the effect of trees on light and water availability, and we then studied the effects of early drought (135 mm excluded from April to the end of May) and light conditions on crop performances and yield components. At 3.5 m from the tree line, light availability was reduced on average by 19% at south and 35% at north of trees over the entire crop cycle and mostly after tree budburst. The impact of trees on soil water content in the crop root zone was weak thanks to the good complementarity of the respective root systems. Under normal rainfall conditions, tree shade decreased pea yield from −25% to −77% compared to full‐sun conditions. In case of spring drought, pea yield was decreased by −22% in full‐sun conditions. The negative effect of tree shade was reduced and decreased pea yield only by −1% to −47%. Under the most intense shade conditions, pea yield was even higher under drought than in normal rainfall conditions. The analysis of crop dynamics and yield components revealed that the vegetative development of pea ceased under drought to the benefit of biomass allocation towards the reproductive organs. Pea yield was less impacted by tree shade under spring drought because yield elaboration relied less on the success of pod set, sensitive to shade and, more on grain filling, improved in case of early drought event. This study supports the hypothesis that agroforestry systems may be more resilient in the case of early drought.
Guillaume Blanchet; Karim Barkaoui; Mattia Bradley; Christian Dupraz; Marie Gosme. Interactions between drought and shade on the productivity of winter pea grown in a 25‐year‐old walnut‐based alley cropping system. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleGuillaume Blanchet, Karim Barkaoui, Mattia Bradley, Christian Dupraz, Marie Gosme. Interactions between drought and shade on the productivity of winter pea grown in a 25‐year‐old walnut‐based alley cropping system. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuillaume Blanchet; Karim Barkaoui; Mattia Bradley; Christian Dupraz; Marie Gosme. 2021. "Interactions between drought and shade on the productivity of winter pea grown in a 25‐year‐old walnut‐based alley cropping system." Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science , no. : 1.
Agroforestry, the intentional integration of trees with crops and/or livestock, can lead to multiple economic and ecological benefits compared to trees and crops/livestock grown separately. Field experimentation has been the primary approach to understanding the tree–crop interactions inherent in agroforestry. However, the number of field experiments has been limited by slow tree maturation and difficulty in obtaining consistent funding. Models have the potential to overcome these hurdles and rapidly advance understanding of agroforestry systems. Hi-sAFe is a mechanistic, biophysical model designed to explore the interactions within agroforestry systems that mix trees with crops. The model couples the pre-existing STICS crop model to a new tree model that includes several plasticity mechanisms responsive to tree–tree and tree–crop competition for light, water, and nitrogen. Monoculture crop and tree systems can also be simulated, enabling calculation of the land equivalent ratio. The model’s 3D and spatially explicit form is key for accurately representing many competition and facilitation processes. Hi-sAFe is a novel tool for exploring agroforestry designs (e.g., tree spacing, crop type, tree row orientation), management strategies (e.g., thinning, branch pruning, root pruning, fertilization, irrigation), and responses to environmental variation (e.g., latitude, climate change, soil depth, soil structure and fertility, fluctuating water table). By improving our understanding of the complex interactions within agroforestry systems, Hi-sAFe can ultimately facilitate adoption of agroforestry as a sustainable land-use practice.
Christian Dupraz; Kevin Wolz; Isabelle Lecomte; Grégoire Talbot; Grégoire Vincent; Rachmat Mulia; François Bussière; Harry Ozier-Lafontaine; Sitraka Andrianarisoa; Nick Jackson; Gerry Lawson; Nicolas Dones; Hervé Sinoquet; Betha Lusiana; Degi Harja; Susy Domenicano; Francesco Reyes; Marie Gosme; Meine Van Noordwijk. Hi-sAFe: A 3D Agroforestry Model for Integrating Dynamic Tree–Crop Interactions. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2293 .
AMA StyleChristian Dupraz, Kevin Wolz, Isabelle Lecomte, Grégoire Talbot, Grégoire Vincent, Rachmat Mulia, François Bussière, Harry Ozier-Lafontaine, Sitraka Andrianarisoa, Nick Jackson, Gerry Lawson, Nicolas Dones, Hervé Sinoquet, Betha Lusiana, Degi Harja, Susy Domenicano, Francesco Reyes, Marie Gosme, Meine Van Noordwijk. Hi-sAFe: A 3D Agroforestry Model for Integrating Dynamic Tree–Crop Interactions. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (8):2293.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristian Dupraz; Kevin Wolz; Isabelle Lecomte; Grégoire Talbot; Grégoire Vincent; Rachmat Mulia; François Bussière; Harry Ozier-Lafontaine; Sitraka Andrianarisoa; Nick Jackson; Gerry Lawson; Nicolas Dones; Hervé Sinoquet; Betha Lusiana; Degi Harja; Susy Domenicano; Francesco Reyes; Marie Gosme; Meine Van Noordwijk. 2019. "Hi-sAFe: A 3D Agroforestry Model for Integrating Dynamic Tree–Crop Interactions." Sustainability 11, no. 8: 2293.
This study is a contribution to the characterization of traditional agroforestry parklands in Lower Casamance. It aims at determining the diversity of species and the tree size structure in these parklands, as well as at identifying the threats to their sustainability, in order to assist decision making on natural resource conservation. To this end, 45 plots of 50 × 50 m size were inventoried. In each plot, an exhaustive inventory of trees was performed, including species identification, height measurement and estimates of regeneration and mortality rates. Additionally, 116 stakeholders were interviewed about their management practices, the revenue they obtained from agroforestry parklands, and their opinion on the future of these parks. A total of 2739 Elaeis guineensis palm trees and 3948 trees from other species were observed in the 11.25 ha studied. Hence a relative density of 40.96 individuals of E. guineensis ha−1. The 63 species belonged to 51 genus within 23 botanical families. The analysis of tree communities indicated a strong role of human management on the species composition of parklands, with cultural value trees near the villages and wood production trees further away, and with some sites having more trees with medicinal uses. The distribution of tree sizes of E. guineensis and estimates of mortality and regeneration rates indicated that the population of palm trees is ageing and regeneration is too low to compensate mortality. Based on interviews, palm production is decreasing in the area, and causes of decline identified by the farmers were salinization, drought, illegal cutting, and bush fires, i.e., both natural and anthropogenic causes. In view of the importance of these parklands for the local economy and food security, better management of E. guineensis parklands is required to ensure their sustainability.
Boubacar Camara; Marie Gosme; Daouda Ngom; Zoe Daba Gomis; Marcel Badji; Diaminatou Sanogo; Christian Dupraz. Ecological characterization and evolution of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. traditional parklands in Lower Casamance (Senegal). Agroforestry Systems 2018, 93, 1251 -1260.
AMA StyleBoubacar Camara, Marie Gosme, Daouda Ngom, Zoe Daba Gomis, Marcel Badji, Diaminatou Sanogo, Christian Dupraz. Ecological characterization and evolution of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. traditional parklands in Lower Casamance (Senegal). Agroforestry Systems. 2018; 93 (4):1251-1260.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoubacar Camara; Marie Gosme; Daouda Ngom; Zoe Daba Gomis; Marcel Badji; Diaminatou Sanogo; Christian Dupraz. 2018. "Ecological characterization and evolution of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. traditional parklands in Lower Casamance (Senegal)." Agroforestry Systems 93, no. 4: 1251-1260.
Light competition by trees is often regarded as a major limiting factor for crops in alley-cropping agroforestry. Northern latitude farmers are usually reluctant to adopt agroforestry as they fear that light competition will be fiercer in their conditions. We questioned the light availability for crops in alley-cropping at different latitudes from the tropic circle to the polar circle with a process-based 3D model of alley-cropping agroforestry. Two tree densities and two tree line orientations were considered. The effect of the latitude was evaluated with same-sized trees. The relative irradiance of the crops was computed for the whole year or at specific times of the year when crops need more light. The heterogeneity of crop irradiance across the alley was also computed. Surprisingly, crop relative irradiance of summer crops at high latitudes is high, at odds with farmers’ fears. Best designs were highlighted for improving the crop irradiance: North–South tree lines are recommended at high latitudes and East–West tree lines at low latitudes. At medium latitudes, North–South tree lines should be preferred to achieve an homogeneous irradiance of the crop in the alley. If we assume that trees at northern latitudes grow slower when compared to southern latitudes, then alley-cropping agroforestry is highly advisable even at high latitudes with summer crops.
Christian Dupraz; Céline Blitz-Frayret; Isabelle LeComte; Quentin Molto; Francesco Reyes; Marie Gosme. Influence of latitude on the light availability for intercrops in an agroforestry alley-cropping system. Agroforestry Systems 2018, 92, 1019 -1033.
AMA StyleChristian Dupraz, Céline Blitz-Frayret, Isabelle LeComte, Quentin Molto, Francesco Reyes, Marie Gosme. Influence of latitude on the light availability for intercrops in an agroforestry alley-cropping system. Agroforestry Systems. 2018; 92 (4):1019-1033.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristian Dupraz; Céline Blitz-Frayret; Isabelle LeComte; Quentin Molto; Francesco Reyes; Marie Gosme. 2018. "Influence of latitude on the light availability for intercrops in an agroforestry alley-cropping system." Agroforestry Systems 92, no. 4: 1019-1033.