Journal article

Authors list: Kraft, P; Rezaei, EE; Breuer, L; Ewert, F; Große-Stoltenberg, A; Kleinebecker, T; Seserman, DM; Nendel, C

Publication year: 2021

Journal: Agronomy

Volume number: 11

Issue number: 11

eISSN: 2073-4395

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112106

Publisher: MDPI

Abstract: 
Climate change, increasing environmental pollution, continuous loss of biodiversity, and a growing human population with increasing food demand, threaten the functioning of agro-ecosystems and their contribution to people and society. Agroforestry systems promise a number of benefits to enhance nature's contributions to people. There are a wide range of agroforestry systems implemented representing different levels of establishment across the globe. This range and the long time periods for the establishment of these systems make empirical assessments of impacts on ecosystem functions difficult. In this study we investigate how simulation models can help to assess and predict the role of agroforestry in nature's contributions. The review of existing models to simulate agroforestry systems reveals that most models predict mainly biomass production and yield. Regulating ecosystem services are mostly considered as a means for the assessment of yield only. Generic agroecosystem models with agroforestry extensions provide a broader scope, but the interaction between trees and crops is often addressed in a simplistic way. The application of existing models for agroforestry systems is particularly hindered by issues related to code structure, licences or availability. Therefore, we call for a community effort to connect existing agroforestry models with ecosystem effect models towards an open-source, multi-effect agroforestry modelling framework.

Harvard Citation style: Kraft, P., Rezaei, E., Breuer, L., Ewert, F., Große-Stoltenberg, A., Kleinebecker, T., et al. (2021) Modelling Agroforestry's Contributions to People - A Review of Available Models, Agronomy, 11(11), Article 2106. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112106

APA Citation style: Kraft, P., Rezaei, E., Breuer, L., Ewert, F., Große-Stoltenberg, A., Kleinebecker, T., Seserman, D., & Nendel, C. (2021). Modelling Agroforestry's Contributions to People - A Review of Available Models. Agronomy. 11(11), Article 2106. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112106