Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia

Autores
Darcha, Girmay; Taye, Gebeyehu; Tsehaye, Yemane; Brhan, Abrha; Cambareri, Gustavo Sebastián; Birhane, Emiru
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems are increasingly playing an important role in sustaining agricultural productivity by mitigating climate variability, land degradation, and increasing food demand in the global south. However, tree canopy and silvicultural management practices influence crop yield and soil properties under the tree canopy. This study examined how Faidherbia albida tree sizes and pollarding frequencies impact wheat yield, yield components, soil characteristics, and economic return in the drylands of Tigray, north Ethiopia. The experiment involving two tree sizes (medium and large) and five pollarding frequencies (none; 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and >15 times) was conducted from 2018 to 2020. Crop yield and soil properties were measured across three canopy distances (full canopy, edge canopy, and open canopy). Forty trees were sampled, each having nine plots, totaling 360 plots in a nested plot design. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with tree sizes, pollarding frequencies, and canopy distances as fixed effects, and tree and cropping season as random effects. Wheat plant height, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield, and key soil properties were significantly influenced by canopy distances and pollarding frequencies. Mean grain yields were the highest under full canopy (2638.8 kg ha−1) and canopy edge (1852.6 kg ha−1), with increases of 60% and 43%, respectively, over open canopy plots (1060.9 kg ha−1). Yield improvements near canopies were linked to higher soil organic matter input and nutrient availability compared to open canopy plots. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and pH were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) under full canopy. Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems produced the highest return on investment (4.91) and benefit-cost ratio (1.75), compared to the open canopy wheat cultivation (1.18 and 0.68, respectively). This demonstrates its potential to enhance crop yield, while maintaining soil health and profitability when managed effectively. These findings underscore the importance of integrating Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems to enhance crop productivity, soil fertility, and farm profitability in dryland agroecosystems.
EEA Balcarce
Fil: Darcha, Girmay. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute. Mekelle Agricultural Research Center; Etiopía
Fil: Darcha, Girmay. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Taye, Gebeyehu. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Tsehaye, Yemane. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Brhan, Abrha. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Cambareri, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University, Mekelle. Institute of Climate and Society; Etiopía
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Nord University. Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture; Noruega
Fuente
Trees, Forests and People 26 : 101325 (July 2026)
Materia
Sistema Agroforestal
Cultivo de Secano
Agroforestería
Árboles de Propósito Múltiple
Silvicultura
Agroforestry Systems
Upland Crops
Agroforestry
Multipurpose Trees
Silviculture
Ethiopia
Etíopia
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/26716
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/26716
network_acronym_str INTADig
repository_id_str l
network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern EthiopiaDarcha, GirmayTaye, GebeyehuTsehaye, YemaneBrhan, AbrhaCambareri, Gustavo SebastiánBirhane, EmiruSistema AgroforestalCultivo de SecanoAgroforesteríaÁrboles de Propósito MúltipleSilviculturaAgroforestry SystemsUpland CropsAgroforestryMultipurpose TreesSilvicultureEthiopiaEtíopiaFaidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems are increasingly playing an important role in sustaining agricultural productivity by mitigating climate variability, land degradation, and increasing food demand in the global south. However, tree canopy and silvicultural management practices influence crop yield and soil properties under the tree canopy. This study examined how Faidherbia albida tree sizes and pollarding frequencies impact wheat yield, yield components, soil characteristics, and economic return in the drylands of Tigray, north Ethiopia. The experiment involving two tree sizes (medium and large) and five pollarding frequencies (none; 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and >15 times) was conducted from 2018 to 2020. Crop yield and soil properties were measured across three canopy distances (full canopy, edge canopy, and open canopy). Forty trees were sampled, each having nine plots, totaling 360 plots in a nested plot design. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with tree sizes, pollarding frequencies, and canopy distances as fixed effects, and tree and cropping season as random effects. Wheat plant height, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield, and key soil properties were significantly influenced by canopy distances and pollarding frequencies. Mean grain yields were the highest under full canopy (2638.8 kg ha−1) and canopy edge (1852.6 kg ha−1), with increases of 60% and 43%, respectively, over open canopy plots (1060.9 kg ha−1). Yield improvements near canopies were linked to higher soil organic matter input and nutrient availability compared to open canopy plots. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and pH were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) under full canopy. Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems produced the highest return on investment (4.91) and benefit-cost ratio (1.75), compared to the open canopy wheat cultivation (1.18 and 0.68, respectively). This demonstrates its potential to enhance crop yield, while maintaining soil health and profitability when managed effectively. These findings underscore the importance of integrating Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems to enhance crop productivity, soil fertility, and farm profitability in dryland agroecosystems.EEA BalcarceFil: Darcha, Girmay. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute. Mekelle Agricultural Research Center; EtiopíaFil: Darcha, Girmay. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; EtiopíaFil: Taye, Gebeyehu. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; EtiopíaFil: Tsehaye, Yemane. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; EtiopíaFil: Brhan, Abrha. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; EtiopíaFil: Cambareri, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; EtiopíaFil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University, Mekelle. Institute of Climate and Society; EtiopíaFil: Birhane, Emiru. Nord University. Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture; NoruegaElsevier2026-06-19T16:33:05Z2026-06-19T16:33:05Z2026-06info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26716https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S26667193260017802666-7193 (online)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101325Trees, Forests and People 26 : 101325 (July 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-10-01T10:25:30Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/26716instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-10-01 10:25:31.003INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
title Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
spellingShingle Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
Darcha, Girmay
Sistema Agroforestal
Cultivo de Secano
Agroforestería
Árboles de Propósito Múltiple
Silvicultura
Agroforestry Systems
Upland Crops
Agroforestry
Multipurpose Trees
Silviculture
Ethiopia
Etíopia
title_short Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
title_full Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
title_sort Tree traits shape wheat yield, soil properties, and economic returns in Faidherbia albida-based Agroforestry in northern Ethiopia
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Darcha, Girmay
Taye, Gebeyehu
Tsehaye, Yemane
Brhan, Abrha
Cambareri, Gustavo Sebastián
Birhane, Emiru
author Darcha, Girmay
author_facet Darcha, Girmay
Taye, Gebeyehu
Tsehaye, Yemane
Brhan, Abrha
Cambareri, Gustavo Sebastián
Birhane, Emiru
author_role author
author2 Taye, Gebeyehu
Tsehaye, Yemane
Brhan, Abrha
Cambareri, Gustavo Sebastián
Birhane, Emiru
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Sistema Agroforestal
Cultivo de Secano
Agroforestería
Árboles de Propósito Múltiple
Silvicultura
Agroforestry Systems
Upland Crops
Agroforestry
Multipurpose Trees
Silviculture
Ethiopia
Etíopia
topic Sistema Agroforestal
Cultivo de Secano
Agroforestería
Árboles de Propósito Múltiple
Silvicultura
Agroforestry Systems
Upland Crops
Agroforestry
Multipurpose Trees
Silviculture
Ethiopia
Etíopia
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems are increasingly playing an important role in sustaining agricultural productivity by mitigating climate variability, land degradation, and increasing food demand in the global south. However, tree canopy and silvicultural management practices influence crop yield and soil properties under the tree canopy. This study examined how Faidherbia albida tree sizes and pollarding frequencies impact wheat yield, yield components, soil characteristics, and economic return in the drylands of Tigray, north Ethiopia. The experiment involving two tree sizes (medium and large) and five pollarding frequencies (none; 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and >15 times) was conducted from 2018 to 2020. Crop yield and soil properties were measured across three canopy distances (full canopy, edge canopy, and open canopy). Forty trees were sampled, each having nine plots, totaling 360 plots in a nested plot design. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with tree sizes, pollarding frequencies, and canopy distances as fixed effects, and tree and cropping season as random effects. Wheat plant height, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield, and key soil properties were significantly influenced by canopy distances and pollarding frequencies. Mean grain yields were the highest under full canopy (2638.8 kg ha−1) and canopy edge (1852.6 kg ha−1), with increases of 60% and 43%, respectively, over open canopy plots (1060.9 kg ha−1). Yield improvements near canopies were linked to higher soil organic matter input and nutrient availability compared to open canopy plots. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and pH were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) under full canopy. Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems produced the highest return on investment (4.91) and benefit-cost ratio (1.75), compared to the open canopy wheat cultivation (1.18 and 0.68, respectively). This demonstrates its potential to enhance crop yield, while maintaining soil health and profitability when managed effectively. These findings underscore the importance of integrating Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems to enhance crop productivity, soil fertility, and farm profitability in dryland agroecosystems.
EEA Balcarce
Fil: Darcha, Girmay. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute. Mekelle Agricultural Research Center; Etiopía
Fil: Darcha, Girmay. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Taye, Gebeyehu. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Tsehaye, Yemane. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Brhan, Abrha. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Cambareri, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University. Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Etiopía
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Mekelle University, Mekelle. Institute of Climate and Society; Etiopía
Fil: Birhane, Emiru. Nord University. Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture; Noruega
description Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems are increasingly playing an important role in sustaining agricultural productivity by mitigating climate variability, land degradation, and increasing food demand in the global south. However, tree canopy and silvicultural management practices influence crop yield and soil properties under the tree canopy. This study examined how Faidherbia albida tree sizes and pollarding frequencies impact wheat yield, yield components, soil characteristics, and economic return in the drylands of Tigray, north Ethiopia. The experiment involving two tree sizes (medium and large) and five pollarding frequencies (none; 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and >15 times) was conducted from 2018 to 2020. Crop yield and soil properties were measured across three canopy distances (full canopy, edge canopy, and open canopy). Forty trees were sampled, each having nine plots, totaling 360 plots in a nested plot design. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with tree sizes, pollarding frequencies, and canopy distances as fixed effects, and tree and cropping season as random effects. Wheat plant height, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield, and key soil properties were significantly influenced by canopy distances and pollarding frequencies. Mean grain yields were the highest under full canopy (2638.8 kg ha−1) and canopy edge (1852.6 kg ha−1), with increases of 60% and 43%, respectively, over open canopy plots (1060.9 kg ha−1). Yield improvements near canopies were linked to higher soil organic matter input and nutrient availability compared to open canopy plots. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and pH were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) under full canopy. Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems produced the highest return on investment (4.91) and benefit-cost ratio (1.75), compared to the open canopy wheat cultivation (1.18 and 0.68, respectively). This demonstrates its potential to enhance crop yield, while maintaining soil health and profitability when managed effectively. These findings underscore the importance of integrating Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry systems to enhance crop productivity, soil fertility, and farm profitability in dryland agroecosystems.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-06-19T16:33:05Z
2026-06-19T16:33:05Z
2026-06
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26716
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719326001780
2666-7193 (online)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101325
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26716
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719326001780
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101325
identifier_str_mv 2666-7193 (online)
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Trees, Forests and People 26 : 101325 (July 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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