Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of trees in sustainable agriculture — an overview

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agroforestry in the Australian environment has potentials to rehabilitate land from further degradation; improve agricultural productivity; produce timber; and contribute to diversification and increase in farm income. These benefits are examined using available information from research. The level of adoption of agroforestry by Australian farmers for these purposes is also determined. Summaries of research results provide the basis for advice that scientists can offer to farmer and decision makers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abel N and Prinsley RT (1991) Rapid appraisal for agroforestry research and extension. The Shuruguri Experience. Forest Ecology and Management, 45: 337–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (1990) Commodity statistical bulletin. Canberra, Australian Government Printing Service

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates CG (1911) Windbreaks: their influence and value. US Dept of Agric, Forest Services, Bulletin 86. Washington, Govt printing office

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird PR (1988) Financial gains of trees on farms through shelter. In: Proceedings International Forestry Conference for the Australian Bicentenary 1988. Albury NSW, Australian Forest Development Institute, April 25–May 1, 1988, 11 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird JR and Cayley JWD (1991) Bad weather, shelter and stock losses. Agric Sci 4(4): 18–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird PR, Lynch JJ and Obst JM (1984) Effect of shelter on plant and animal production. Proc Aust Soc Anim Prod 15: 270–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird PR, Bicknell D, Bulman P, Burke SJ, Leys J and Parker J (1992) The role of shelter in Australia for protecting soils, plants and livestock. Agroforestry Systems 20: 59–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Boutland A, Byron N and Prinsley R (1990) 1991 Directory of assistance schemes for trees on farms and rural vegetation. Greening Australia

  • Boutland A, Robinson M, Field J, Scheltema M, Hawkins B, Bulman P, Scarvelis J, Mason B, Wallace M, Castley M, Ryan P, Lansdown C and Reid R (1992) National Summary Paper — Minor Forest Products. Agroforestry Systems 20: 25–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulman P (1991) Shade shelter and erosion control — a simplistic model for to compare the relative benefits of different farm tree designs for South Australia. The Role of Trees in Sustainable Agriculture conference, Sept 30–Oct 3, Albury, NSW

    Google Scholar 

  • Caborn JM (1957) Shelterbelts and microclimate. Forestry Commission bull No 29, Edinburgh, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadman S, Prinsley RT and Moxham RW (1991) Environmental costs and benefits of establishing plantations on cleared agricultural land. Report to the National Plantations Advisory Committee. Bureau of Rural Resources, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia (1979) A basis for soil conservation policy in Australia. Report no 1. Canberra, Australian Government Printing Service, 193 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbet HA (1951) Fodder trees: suggestions for their wider use. Perth, Imperial Printing Company

    Google Scholar 

  • Cribb AB and Cribb JW (1981) Useful wild plants in Australia. Sydney, Collins

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckersley R (1989) Regreening Australia: the environmental, economic and social benefit of reforestation. Occasional paper No 3. Melbourne, CSIRO

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecos (1980) Soil Erosion: Can We Dam the Flood? Vol 25. Melbourne, CSIRO

    Google Scholar 

  • Etherington D (1991) The economic analysis of trees in sustainable agriculture. Workshop paper for The Role of Trees in Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Sept 30–Oct 3, 1991, Albury, NSW

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson IS (1988) Agroforestry as an economic venture in Australia. The International Forestry Conference, for the Australian Bicentenary, Vol 2. Albury, NSW, Australian Forest Development Institute

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger R (1965) The Climate Near the Ground. Massachusetts, Harvard Univ Press, 507 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Graetz RD and Wilson AD (1979) An assessment of herbivore diets in the chenopod shrublands. In: Graetz RD and Howes KMW, eds, Studies of the Australian Arid Zone. IV. Chenopod Shrublands, pp 144–159. Melbourne, CSIRO

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall MJ (1990) Barriers and opportunities for growing plantations privately. In: Dargavel J and Semple N, eds, Prospects for Australian Forest Plantations, pp 389–96. Canberra, CRES ANU

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansard AW and Dean MJ (1991) Taxation and industrial forestry investment: some issues and policy inplications, ABARE Discussion Paper 91.2. Canberra, AGPS

    Google Scholar 

  • Imperial Agricultural Bureaux (1947) The use and misuse of shrubs and trees as fodder. Joint Publ. 10, Imperial Agr Bureaux, Aberystwyth

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram J (1990) The Role of Trees in Maintaining and Improving Soil Productivity — a Review of the Literature, Commonwealth Science Council, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Forestry of Australia (1989) Trees: their key role in rural land management. Submission to the House of Representatives Committee of Inquiry into Land Degradation in Australia

  • Lefroy EC, Dann P, Wildin J, Wesley Smith R and McGowan T (1992) Trees and shrubs as a source of fodder in Australia. Agroforestry Systems 20: 116–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Leigh JH and Mulham WE (1986) Selection of diet by sheep grazing semi arid pastures on the riverine plain. Aust J Exp Agric Anim Sci 6: 468–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Loane B (1991) Economic Evaluation of Farm trees — Methodology and Data for Farmtree Model. Department of Agriculture & Department of Conservation and Environment

  • Maiden JH (1975) The Useful Native Plants of Australia. Compendium, Melbourne. Reproduction of 1889 edition

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall CJ (1990) Control of erosion. In: Cremer KW, ed, Trees for Rural Australia. Melbourne and Sydney, CSIRO, Inkata press

    Google Scholar 

  • McComb JA, Bennett IJ, Bell DT and van der Moezel PG (1991) Adding value to Australia's genetic resources in tree species. Aust J Biotechnol (in press)

  • Moore R (1991) Producing timber from trees — options for farmers. The Role of Trees in Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Sept 30–Oct 3, Albury, NSW

  • Moore R (1992) Producing timber from trees — options for farmers. Agroforestry Systems 20: 165–184

    Google Scholar 

  • National Farmers Federation (1991) Australian Agriculture. The Complete Reference on Rural Industry. Vol 2, 1989–1990. Canberra, NFF

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinsley RT (1991a) Australian agroforestry — setting the scene for future research. Report to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, Australia

  • Prinsley RT (1991b) A review of private forestry assistance schemes on Australian farms. Report to the national plantations advisory committee. Bureau of Rural Resources, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Queensland Department Primary Industry (1990). ‘Grassman’

  • Resource Assessment Commission (1991) Forest and timber inquiry draft, Report Vol 1, Canberra, Australia

  • Reid R and Bird R (1990) Shade and shelter. In: Kremer KW, ed, Trees for Rural Australia. (Melbourne and Sydney, CSIRO, Inkata press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rural Research (1989) Wind erosion — dust, dunes,and tell-tale sediments, No 144, pp 13–23, CSIRO, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlan JC (1992) A model of woody herbacious biomass relationships in eucalypt and mesquite communities. J Range Man 45 (Jan)

  • Scanlan J, Prinsley R, Piggott P, Prescott A, Bishop G, Wakefield S, Van der Sommen F, Duncan F, Stadler T, McLellan R and Ferago (1992) Management of native vegetation on farms in Australia. Agroforestry Systems 20: 139–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Schofield NJ, Bari MA, Bell DT, Boddington WJ, George R and Pettit N (1992) Tree planting for dryland salinity control in Australia. Agroforestry Systems 20: 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires VR and Siebert BD (1983) Botanical and chemical components of the diet of liveweight change in cattle on semi-desert rangeland in central Australia. Aust Rangel J (5)1: 28–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturrock JW (1969) Aerodynamic studies of shelterbelts in New Zealand. 1. Low to medium height shelterbelts in mid Canterbury. NZ J Sci 12: 754–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturrock J W (1972) Aerodynamic studies of shelterbelts in New Zealand. 2. Medium height to tall shelterbelts in mid Canterbury. NZ J Sci (15): 113–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker J, Williams B, Hatton T, O'Loughlin E and Jupp D (1991) Use of trees for dryland salinity control. The Role of Trees in Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Sept 30–Oct 3, Albury, NSW

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson AD (1969) A Review of browse in the nutrition of grazing animals. J Range Man 22: 2328

    Google Scholar 

  • Young A (1989) Agroforestry for Soil Conservation, Nairobi, ICRAF, CAB International, U.K. 121 pp

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R. T. Prinsley

    Present address: Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, PO Box 4776, ACT 2604, Kingston, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bureau of Rural Resources, DPIE, Australia

    R. T. Prinsley

Authors
  1. R. T. Prinsley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Prinsley, R.T. The role of trees in sustainable agriculture — an overview. Agroforest Syst 20, 87–115 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055306

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055306

Key words

Search

Navigation