Spatial effect of dominant tree species on crop productivity, water and nutrient availability within smallholder farms in Rift Valley, Kenya

To improve sustainability of agroforestry practices while improving agroecosystem functions and soil health, a better understanding of how to optimize tree-crop interaction is required through study on the impact of tree species and spatial arrangements that minimize competition, favors complementarities and facilitative interactions among trees and associated crops. The purpose of this study was specifically to: a) determine the spatial effect of dominant tree species on soil organic C and nutrient availability within smallholder farms; b) to evaluate the effect of dominant tree species on water availability within smallholder farms; and c) to evaluate the spatial effect of dominant sp ecies on crop productivity.

为提升农林业（agroforestry）实践的可持续性，同时优化农业生态系统功能与土壤健康，亟需通过研究可最小化种间竞争、强化林木与配套作物间互补效应与促进作用的树种及其空间配置的影响，深化对林木-作物互作优化路径的认知。本研究的具体目标如下：a）探明小农户农场中优势树种对土壤有机碳与养分有效性的空间效应；b）评估优势树种对小农户农场内水分有效性的影响；c）评估优势树种对作物生产力的空间效应。