Agroforestry Systems and Ecosystem Services

Agroforestry encompasses land-use systems in which woody perennials are deliberately combined with crops and/or livestock to create multifunctional landscapes. These systems deliver a suite of ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, soil conservation and water regulation, while also providing provisioning services such as food, fuel and fodder. By diversifying structure and species composition, agroforestry can buffer microclimates, reduce erosion, improve nutrient cycling and support pollinators and natural pest control. Globally, agroforestry offers a route to reconcile agricultural productivity with climate mitigation and adaptation objectives, while delivering cultural and recreational values. Examples range from silvoarable alleys in temperate Europe to scattered tree-pasture systems in the tropics, each tailored to local ecological conditions and socio-economic contexts. The integration of trees alters energy and water fluxes, enhances below-ground carbon pools and promotes habitat connectivity, making agroforestry a powerful tool for sustainable land management at field and landscape scales.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that current cereal cultivars possess sufficient plasticity to benefit from the shade provided by agroforestry trees. Greenhouse experiments with winter wheat and barley under graded light regimes demonstrated yield increases of around 19 % in intermediate shade compared with full light. Barley adapted through physiological adjustments—such as lowered dark respiration and enhanced quantum yield—whereas wheat relied on morphological changes, notably increased leaf area. These findings indicate that optimised crop selection and tree design can harness facilitative interactions to offset climate-driven yield declines in integrated systems.

Research from all publishers

Analyses of farmer behaviour in Sweden extended the Theory of Planned Behaviour to include identity, network membership and economic perceptions. Surveys of nearly 400 producers revealed that formal network ties significantly boost agroforestry adoption by enhancing access to technical guidance, whereas other psychosocial factors had limited explanatory power. Separately, a geospatial economic and life-cycle assessment in Baden-Württemberg modelled the impact of eco-scheme premiums under the EU’s agricultural policy. Results indicated that premiums up to €400 ha−1 yr−1 could sequester biomass in short rotation coppice equivalent to up to 1.5 % of regional agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions, though cost-effectiveness varied widely with input assumptions. Together, these studies underscore the importance of targeted incentives and knowledge networks in scaling agroforestry for climate mitigation and sustainable production.

Agroforestry Systems and Ecosystem Services publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in agroforestry systems and ecosystem services across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Agroforestry: Deliberate integration of trees or shrubs with crops and/or livestock to create multifunctional land-use systems.

Ecosystem services: Benefits provided by ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural functions.

Carbon sequestration: Long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide in vegetation and soils.

Theory of Planned Behaviour: A psychological model that predicts behavioural intentions based on attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control.

Short rotation coppice: Cultivation of fast-growing tree species harvested on short cycles for biomass production.

Eco-scheme premium: Financial incentive under agricultural policy to encourage environmentally beneficial practices, paid per hectare.

References

1. Wheat and barley can increase grain yield in shade through acclimation of physiological and morphological traits in Mediterranean conditions. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Behavioural factors for farmers' adoption of agroforestry practices in Sweden. Sustainable Production and Consumption (2024).
3. Model-based analysis of the impact of an eco-scheme premium on the climate protection potential of short rotation coppice in Baden-Württemberg. Farming System (2025).