4. THE ROLE OF TREES IN LAND USE

4.8 Trees and agriculture

The supportive role trees can have in relation to agriculture is of great importance in farming areas. Trees can help in conservation of soil and water, enhance soil fertility and improve soil structure. Trees can also help retain moisture and reduce wind speeds and so contribute to higher crop yields.

On the other hand, tree species that are unsuitable in relation to the crops being grown, or that are not managed in appropriate ways, can also reduce yields significantly. Thus, successful growing of trees in farming areas depends on a good understanding of how trees and crops interact. This whole subject is so important that it will be discussed more thoroughly in Chapters 5-7.

Figure 4.19 Women tending a terraced field with fruit and fodder trees