Agroforestry and conservation agriculture: Complementary practices for sustainable development

Abstract

This paper explores how conservation agriculture and agroforestry can be complementary approaches for increasing agricultural sustainability. Developing a discussion of how both systems are designed to mimic the natural environment through the maintenance of a 'natural' ground cover and the complimentary production of crops which utilize different soil nutrients. Benefits of conservation agriculture and agroforestry systems are accrued in several primary areas: efficiency of natural resource use, sustaining the production environment, increased income generation opportunities, and environmental improvement. With this in mind, the paper goes on to set forth the conditions in which complementary development of conservation agriculture and agroforestry may be realized.