The Agroforestry Potential and Analysis of Growth and Yield of different Vegetables Grown Under Olive Orchard to Mitigate Climate Change Effects

Olive is a drought-tolerant plant, making it suitable for cultivation in various dry regions of Pakistan. By applying the principles and regulations of agroforestry, we can increase crop yields, thereby creating a self-sustained farming ecosystem. Agroforestry is a technique that integrates the production of trees, vegetation, and livestock on the same land to achieve financial, environmental, ecological, and cultural benefits. A field experiment was conducted on six winter vegetables—cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, leafy green lettuce, leafy red lettuce, and broccoli—grown under three olive orchards of different ages (10, 20, and 30 years) with varying shading capacities at the Horticultural Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad. The study focused on intercropping vegetables within olive orchards of different ages. Critical parameters were monitored, and strict plant inspections were carried out during the experimentation period. Plant samples were tested for morphology and chemical composition. It was found that more vigorous olive trees significantly decreased the growth, leaf chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake, and yield of the intercropped vegetables. Maximum shading from the 30-year-old olive orchard severely reduced plant growth and yield. The extent to which growth is limited by intercropping or shade intensity may vary with the genetic makeup of different crops. The results showed that plants grown under optimal light conditions exhibited greater plant height, spread, and stem diameter, attributed to the stimulation of cellular expansion and cell division under adequate sunlight, which increases photosynthetic efficiency. Cabbage and kohlrabi were identified as the most viable crops under the experimental conditions.