Agroforestry may help in mitigating the climate change, as forest/trees absorb more CO2 than the crop itself. The reason is more number of leaves in trees which still belong to the trees even after crop is harvested. Generally, crop is harvested during mid or early summer while trees stands even in hard summer too which increase the times of stomatel opening and there by allowing trees to absorb more CO2. However, leaves from trees fall during winter while the crop which is growing can continue sinking CO2. Hence, in this way, agroforestry can continue sinking CO2 from the atmosphere and thus can help in mitigation of climate change.
However, there are some hurdles which affects application of agroforestry as:
1. Trees: Yes, trees have strong root system than crop hence they can absorb more nutrient and water and this may critical issue for crops especially during flowering time.
2. Shadows: shadows can affect evapotranspiration and photosynthesis as it do not allow or can strict light transfer to crops. Grain would not mature on time.
3. Unwanted guests: trees are home of birds, rats, insects, ants and fungus too during humidity time.
4. Crop loss: fall of trees due to cyclone or heavy precipitation.
There are many models which can help to modeling of agroforestry such as:
1. APSIM
2. Hi-sAFe
3. SCUAF
4. EPIC for AF
5. SBELTS
6. WaNuLCAS
7. HyPAR
and there are many more according to their type like 2d, 3D, 1D, field level, landscape level (reference) and below figure showed the actual difference among them.
Reference:
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/11/2106
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