Sustainable Agriculture: Agroforestry for Soil Fertility and Food Security

Abstract

Agricultural practices determine the level of food production, sustainability and largely the state of the global environment. The present agricultural practices that have greatly increased global food supply have had adverse impacts on the environment and on ecosystem services are calling for the need for more sustainable agricultural system. Sustainability implies maintain high yields in the face of major shocks, and agricultural practices that have acceptable environmental impacts. This review paper aimed to examines how and why agro-forestry would be the best requirement for sustainable agriculture and food security. Different researches which have reviewed in this paper explain thatn agro-forestry is highly efficient to insure agricultural sustainability through enhancement of soil fertility, plant nutrients, organic matter, soil carbon sequestration, retention of soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, increase productivity and improve dietary value. It also help for food security via increased crop productivity, ensuring nutrition security and balanced diet, diversified crop production, boost income generation, and other multi functional value. In short agro forestry is an efficient agricultural practices for sustainable agriculture system which offer increased productivity, economic benefits, and more diversity in the ecological goods and services provided with two or more interacting plant species in a given land area, it creates a more complex habitat that can support a wider variety of birds, insects, and other animals. To achieve such a scenario particularly in the developing countries understanding the multiple benefits of agro-forestry and expanding the system is not only an important for enhanced soil fertility and food security, but it is the question of sustaining life on the earth.