Agroforestry contributes significantly to both food diversity and soil sustainability by integrating trees with crops, which promotes biodiversity and improves soil health. Marques et al. (2022) highlight how agroforestry systems enhance soil quality by mitigating erosion, improving nutrient cycling, and increasing organic matter. These benefits contribute to sustainable food production, as healthier soils support diverse and nutrient-dense crops. Additionally, agroforestry systems help to restore degraded soils, particularly in tropical regions, by promoting biodiversity and ecosystem functions, leading to resilient agricultural landscapes (Marques et al., 2022).
Sollen-Norrlin et al. (2020) explain that agroforestry systems also increase food diversity by enabling the simultaneous cultivation of multiple species, such as vegetables, fruits, and grains. This intercropping not only diversifies food sources but also supports soil health by preventing monoculture practices, which are known to deplete soil nutrients and harm biodiversity. By adding organic matter through leaf litter and supporting soil biodiversity, agroforestry helps maintain fertile soils while contributing to the diversity and stability of food supplies (Sollen-Norrlin et al., 2020).
Fahad et al. (2022) underscore that agroforestry practices are especially effective in maintaining soil moisture and enhancing nutrient availability. By integrating nitrogen-fixing trees and plants that contribute organic matter, agroforestry systems build a sustainable nutrient cycle. These systems also encourage microbial diversity in soils, which is crucial for long-term soil fertility and productive agriculture. The result is a system that not only sustains diverse crops but also provides essential ecological services, like water retention and carbon sequestration, which are critical for sustainable food production (Fahad et al., 2022).
To sum up, agroforestry supports soil sustainability by enhancing soil health and biodiversity, while contributing to food diversity through the integration of multiple crops, resulting in productive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural systems.
References
Marques, M. A., Anjos, L. H. C., & Sanchez Delgado, A. R. (2022). Land recovery and soil management with agroforestry systems. Spanish Journal of Soil Science, 12, 10457. https://doi.org/10.3389/sjss.2022.10457
Sollen-Norrlin, M., Ghaley, B. B., & Rintoul, N. L. J. (2020). Agroforestry benefits and challenges for adoption in Europe and beyond. Sustainability, 12(17), 7001. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177001
Fahad, S., Chavan, S. B., Chichaghare, A. R., et al. (2022). Agroforestry systems for soil health improvement and maintenance. Sustainability, 14(22), 14877. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214877
