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Myths and Scientific Realities of Agroforestry as a Strategy for Sustainable Management for Soils in the Tropics

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Advances in Soil Science

Part of the book series: Advances in Soil Science ((SOIL,volume 15))

Abstract

Tropical rainforest (TRF), a very valuable resource of genetic diversity and a regulator of many processes that impinge on global climate, is rapidly being depleted. Estimates of TRF conversion rate vary widely and range from 6 to 30 million hectares annually depending on what is considered as TRF and what is meant by conversion. Regardless of the accuracy of data, the current rate of dforestation of TRF is higher than ever before. In fact, rapid deforestation of TRF is one of the major environmental issues of modern times. Important among principal causes of deforestation are small-scale farming and shifting cultivation, large-scale commercial agriculture and plantation establishment, pasture deelopment, and population resettlement schemes.

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  1. R. Lal
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  1. USDA Conservation Production Research Laboratory, 79012, Bushland, TX, USA

    B. A. Stewart

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Lal, R. (1991). Myths and Scientific Realities of Agroforestry as a Strategy for Sustainable Management for Soils in the Tropics. In: Stewart, B.A. (eds) Advances in Soil Science. Advances in Soil Science, vol 15. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3030-4_3

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