An assessment of agroforestry systems in the southern USA

The potential for agroforestry development in the southern U.S. was evaluated through a survey of the literature and of land use professionals. Currently, silvopastoral systems are the most common type of agroforestry practiced in the region, showing such benefits as higher economic return, diversification, and enhanced timing of cash flows. The less common alley cropping systems tend to have such problems as lower-than-expected profitability, tree damage due to crop cultivation, and the constraints of intensive labor and management skill. Opportunities for implementing agroforestry in the region were identified, including improvement of marginal land, windbreaks and buffer strips for better water quality and wildlife habitat, and production of specialty market items.