Effect of Agroforestry on Land Productivity in Dryland Area of Morocco

Abstract

The arid climatic context of Morocco and the extensive degradation of natural resources constitute the origin of the decline in agricultural production. The challenges generated by this situation encourage the development of innovative and sustainable technologies to maintain and secure this production. These technologies must be part not only of adaptation and mitigation of climate variations, but also of meeting needs (food, income, well-being), while conserving natural resources. In this context, agroforestry is an agricultural practice to be recommended as it can respond to many current challenges (biodiversity, diversified production, carbon storage). This work aims to characterize the performance of the agroforestry system in the semi-arid climate of western Morocco. To do this, comparisons between yields of plant and organic and mineral composition of the soil were made between agroforestry systems (SAF) and monoculture systems (MS). The introduction of shrubs and trees into agricultural plots has improved the production and quality of crops. In fact, the use of shrubs and trees in cereal fields, showed very significant differences in density, biomass and grain yield. So, agroforestry plots recorded higher values of barley biomass, with 2.75 tons/ha, 2.90 tons/ha and 3.02 tons/ha respectively for argan tree, Medicago and carob tree, than no tree plot (1.8 tons/ha). In addition, the crops yield in SAF was, in general, better than MS. On average, the barley grain production was 2.24, 1.63 and 0.65 tons/ha for carob tree, Medicago and argan tree and only 0.46 tons/ha for MS. We also found that the organic matter and total nitrogen in the soil was significantly important in SAF than in MS. In fact, the soil in barley crop for SAF contains 4.8% of OM and 3.8% for MS in top horizon (0 – 15 cm) and 4.6% and 2.6% for the horizon (15 - 30 cm). Thus, agroforestry systems are more productive and efficient and would constitute a solution for sustainable agricultural production in drylands of Morocco.