agroforestry
ag-roh-FOR-uh-stree
/ˌæɡ.roʊˈfɔːr.ə.stri/
agriculture incorporating the cultivation and conservation of trees.
It involves planting trees among or around crops or pastureland to provide shade, windbreaks, and extra nutrients.
The story behind the word. A combination of the Greek 'agros' (field) and the English 'forestry'. It reflects a return to ancient practices where food was gathered from 'food forests' rather than open, cleared fields.
Word relationships
- silvopasture: A specific type of agroforestry that combines trees with livestock grazing.
- alley cropping: A specific type where crops are grown in alleys between rows of trees.
- deforestation: The removal of trees from the land.
- clear-cutting: The practice of cutting down all trees in an area for farming or timber.
Commonly confused with
- forestry: Forestry is just managing forests; agroforestry is managing forests and food crops together.
Word family
- agroforester (noun): a specialist in agroforestry
Collocations
- agroforestry systems
- tropical agroforestry
- agroforestry practices
Example sentences
- "Agroforestry is a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops." Institutional definition
- "By adopting agroforestry, the farmer reduced soil erosion and gained a new source of timber and fruit." Environmental benefit
Memory hook
'Agro' (farm) + 'Forestry' (trees) = Farming with trees. Farming in the woods.
When not to use
Do not use for a simple forest or a simple farm; it must be the combination of the two.
Fun facts
- Agroforestry can increase a farm's total productivity because it uses vertical space, not just the ground level.
Related words
Explore more words
silviculture, agronomy, reforestation, grove, deforest, crop rotation
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