Agroforestry systems in the brazilian semi-arid region.

• Autor(a) principal: RIBASKI, J.
• Data de Publicação: 1994
• Outros Autores: MENEZES, E. A.
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
• Texto Completo: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/133051
• topic: Sistema agroflorestal; Regiao semi-arida; Semi-arid region; Agrossilvicultura; agroforestry; Brazil

This paper gives a brief overview of the Brazilian semi-arid region, presenting some of its problems, limitations and potentialities. Within this context, it emphasizes the urgent need of agricultural diversification due to the high risks to which rainfed agriculture is subjected. Based on the potentialities, and on the characteristics os the region, it is suggested the use of agroforestry systems as an important alternative for increasing and improving the regional agricultural productivity, minimizing ecological problems. Among the intercropping systems, the forest and livestock activities, are presented as soil productive capacity, assuring a greater alternative presented is the utilization of trees as living fences and windbreakers. The latter has a great potential for irrigated areas. In addition, agroforestry systems where emphasis has been species. Among the tree species studied so far, Eucalyptus have been outstanding. Regarding the non-arboreal forage species, the genera Cenchrus Urochloa and Opuntia have had more attention.