Tanika Scherbinski edited Agro Forestry.tex  almost 10 years ago

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It is however the indirect effects that will help farmers adapt to a changing climate. For instance, nitrogen fixing trees bind nitrogen in the ground, fertilizing it. Since nitrogen is often a limiting factor for plant growth, this extra nitrogen in the ground will help crops prosper without the need of synthetic fertilizers \cite{Fleischer_2013}. Studies have already showed that using fertilizer tree species contributes to a larger maize yield than without the use of any fertilizer \cite{Lasco_2014}.   A second benefit trees have is that it creates shade for the surface below them, which allows them to buffer against temperature extremes and therefore decrease evaporation \cite{Mbow_2014a}. This can contribute to a longer growing period for the crops, making them less likely to fail. Furthermore, this shade will create a more comfortable working environment for the farmers.   A third benefit comes from water management by trees. If pruned correctly, the roots will grow to use water from deeper layers and therefore not compete over water with annual crops, which use water from the top soil. Furthermore, tree cover plays an important role in the water cycle, and analysis has shown that trees have a direct influence of precipitation patterns \cite{Mbow_2014a}. Since a significant fraction of the precipitation originates from local evaporation, shows that an increase in plant cover can increase the amount of local precipitation \cite{Bierkens2008}. This might eventually contribute to a positive feedback effect increasing precipitation in the area.  Benefit number four stems from the fact that unlike most crops, trees will be on the land for multiple years. Where normally surface litter and crop residue are removed, which results in soil erosion and increasing the chances of water runoff, now trees still cover the surface, reducing these effects \cite{Mbow_2014a}.   \textit{\textbf{[Insecticide]}}  The final effect from agroforestry is that it reduces the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Since trees sequester carbon, the overall carbon concentration will be reduced. Trees will use and store carbon for their entire lifetime, keeping it out of the cycle longer than regular crops. If agro forestry is applied on a large scale, the storing of carbon will contribute to reducing climate change. This way the adaptation measure will contribute to a decrease in the reason for adaptation \cite{Mbow_2014a}.