IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i16p9261-d616726.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Benefits of Legume Species in an Agroforestry Production System of Yellow Pitahaya in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Yadira Vargas-Tierras

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), Central Amazon Research Site (EECA), Joya de los Sachas 220350, Ecuador)

  • Alejandra Díaz

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), Central Amazon Research Site (EECA), Joya de los Sachas 220350, Ecuador)

  • Carlos Caicedo

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), Central Amazon Research Site (EECA), Joya de los Sachas 220350, Ecuador)

  • Julio Macas

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), Central Amazon Research Site (EECA), Joya de los Sachas 220350, Ecuador)

  • Alfonso Suárez-Tapia

    (Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), Graduate School of Agroindustry and Food Science, Campus Queri, Quito 170513, Ecuador)

  • William Viera

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), Santa Catalina Research Site, Tumbaco Experimental Farm, Tumbaco 170902, Ecuador)

Abstract

Agroforestry systems have become an alternative that promotes the conservation of natural resources and the sustainable production of fruit crops in the Ecuadorian Amazon. However, it is required to demonstrate the benefit of the companion species that make up these production systems. The objective of this research was to determine how the legume species within an agroforestry system influence the yield of yellow dragon fruit (pitahaya), carbon sequestration and nutritional contribution. The experiment was carried out in Palora (province of Morona Santiago) and organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were two agroforestry arrangements and the monoculture as a control treatment. Erythrina poeppigiana , Gliricidia sepium and Flemingia macrophylla were used in the agroforestry arrangements for the contribution of biomass. Results showed that during the five years of study, pitahaya yield was influenced by the quality of the leaf litter (biomass) incorporated in to the fruit crop. Biomass from E. poeppigiana and F. macrophylla as companion crops contributed a greater amount of Ca and Mg, increased C sequestration and crop yield. The results suggest that the use of legume species in agroforestry systems positively affects pitahaya productivity, enabling sustainable agriculture in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Suggested Citation

  • Yadira Vargas-Tierras & Alejandra Díaz & Carlos Caicedo & Julio Macas & Alfonso Suárez-Tapia & William Viera, 2021. "Benefits of Legume Species in an Agroforestry Production System of Yellow Pitahaya in the Ecuadorian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9261-:d:616726
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9261/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9261/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lisa Mølgaard Lehmann & Jo Smith & Sally Westaway & Andrea Pisanelli & Giuseppe Russo & Robert Borek & Mignon Sandor & Adrian Gliga & Laurence Smith & Bhim Bahadur Ghaley, 2020. "Productivity and Economic Evaluation of Agroforestry Systems for Sustainable Production of Food and Non-Food Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Emilia Pramova & Bruno Locatelli & Houria Djoudi & Olufunso A. Somorin, 2012. "Forests and trees for social adaptation to climate variability and change," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 3(6), pages 581-596, November.
    3. Priscila S. Matos & Steven J. Fonte & Sandra S. Lima & Marcos G. Pereira & Courtland Kelly & Júnior M. Damian & Marcelo A. Fontes & Guilherme M. Chaer & Felipe C. Brasil & Everaldo Zonta, 2020. "Linkages among Soil Properties and Litter Quality in Agroforestry Systems of Southeastern Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Viviana Ferrario, 2021. "Learning from Agricultural Heritage? Lessons of Sustainability from Italian “Coltura Promiscua”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Etwire, Prince Maxwell, 2020. "The impact of climate change on farming system selection in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Meine van Noordwijk & Richard Coe & Fergus L. Sinclair & Eike Luedeling & Jules Bayala & Catherine W. Muthuri & Peter Cooper & Roeland Kindt & Lalisa Duguma & Christine Lamanna & Peter A. Minang, 2021. "Climate change adaptation in and through agroforestry: four decades of research initiated by Peter Huxley," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1-33, June.
    4. Claudia de Brito Quadros Gonçalves & Madalena Maria Schlindwein & Gabrielli do Carmo Martinelli, 2021. "Agroforestry Systems: A Systematic Review Focusing on Traditional Indigenous Practices, Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Viability, and the Role of Women," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Jyoti, Bhim & Singh, Ajay Kumar, 2020. "Projected Sugarcane Yield in Different Climate Change Scenarios in Indian States: A State-Wise Panel Data Exploration," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 8(4), October.
    6. Razafindratsima, Onja H. & Kamoto, Judith F.M. & Sills, Erin O. & Mutta, Doris N. & Song, Conghe & Kabwe, Gillian & Castle, Sarah E. & Kristjanson, Patricia M. & Ryan, Casey M. & Brockhaus, Maria & Su, 2021. "Reviewing the evidence on the roles of forests and tree-based systems in poverty dynamics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    7. Lorena Pasquini & Richard Cowling, 2015. "Opportunities and challenges for mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation in local government: evidence from the Western Cape, South Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1121-1140, October.
    8. Thiesmeier, Alma & Zander, Peter, 2023. "Can agroforestry compete? A scoping review of the economic performance of agroforestry practices in Europe and North America," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    9. Gori Maia, Alexandre & Eusebio, Gabriela dos Santos & Fasiaben, Maria do Carmo Ramos & Moraes, Andre Steffens & Assad, Eduardo Delgado & Pugliero, Vanessa Silva, 2021. "The economic impacts of the diffusion of agroforestry in Brazil," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Christianson, Anne B. & Montgomery, Rebecca & Fleischman, Forrest & Nelson, Kristen C., 2022. "Exploring wildlife disservices and conservation in the context of ecosystem-based adaptation: A case study in the Mt. Elgon region, Uganda," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    11. Emmanouil Tziolas & Stefanos Ispikoudis & Konstantinos Mantzanas & Dimitrios Koutsoulis & Anastasia Pantera, 2022. "Economic and Environmental Assessment of Olive Agroforestry Practices in Northern Greece," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Matthew M. Smith & Gary Bentrup & Todd Kellerman & Katherine MacFarland & Richard Straight & Lord Ameyaw, 2022. "Agroforestry Extent in the United States: A Review of National Datasets and Inventory Efforts," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    13. Ntawuruhunga, Donatien & Ngowi, Edwin Estomii & Mangi, Halima Omari & Salanga, Raymond John & Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia, 2023. "Climate-smart agroforestry systems and practices: A systematic review of what works, what doesn't work, and why," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. Dickson Mgangathweni Mazibuko & Hiroko Gono & Sarvesh Maskey & Hiromu Okazawa & Lameck Fiwa & Hidehiko Kikuno & Tetsu Sato, 2023. "The Sustainable Niche for Vegetable Production within the Contentious Sustainable Agriculture Discourse: Barriers, Opportunities and Future Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    15. Mulungu, Kelvin & Kilimani, Nicholas, 2023. "Does forest access reduce reliance on costly shock-coping strategies? Evidence from Malawi," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9261-:d:616726. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.