Are Syntropic Agroforestry Systems Microclimatically Similar to Tropical Forests?

One possible way to make agricultural systems more sustainable is by mimicking natural ecosystems. In this regard, syntropic agroforestry systems (SAS) are agroecosystems that, to some extent, replicate the structure and natural dynamics of tropical forests through the use of a large number of trees...

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Published inJournal of Forest and Environmental Science Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 137 - 143
Main Authors Sabrina Mendes Pereira(Doctoral Student, Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Planaltina, University of Brasília, Brasília, Maurício Rigon Hoffman, Luiz Felippe Salemi(Division of Life and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Planaltina, University of Brasília, Brasília
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 산림과학연구소 31.03.2025
Subjects
임학
sustainable development
regenerative agriculture
tropical agriculture
sustainable agriculture
conservation agriculture
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ISSN2288-9744
2288-9752

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Summary:One possible way to make agricultural systems more sustainable is by mimicking natural ecosystems. In this regard, syntropic agroforestry systems (SAS) are agroecosystems that, to some extent, replicate the structure and natural dynamics of tropical forests through the use of a large number of trees. This study aims to address the following question: are SAS microclimatically similar to tropical forests? To do so, we measured canopy coverage, relative air humidity, air temperature, soil temperature, and illuminance in a SAS and an adjacent tropical forest. The results revealed significantly higher air temperature and illuminance, along with lower relative air humidity, in the SAS compared to the tropical forest. These differences can likely be attributed to the lower number of tree strata and the specific tree configuration within the SAS compared to the more complex structure of the tropical forest. In conclusion, despite incorporating a large number of trees, SASs do not share common microclimatic conditions with tropical forests.
ISSN:2288-9744
2288-9752