Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production

Dear Colleagues,

Agroforestry systems include a wide range of solutions using trees outside forests: riparian vegetation, windbreaks, short rotation coppices, and tree plantations in arable land, either as monoculture or associated with other crops. In these systems, timber and/or woody biomass production is often combined with further products or services. Some examples are the protection of food crops and the control of erosion and pollution, among others.

Agroforestry systems compete with intensive food and industrial crops for land use; therefore, the sum of their products and services must offset the value of the alternatives. Additionally, they are generally more complex and labor-demanding, leading to higher tending costs. Nonetheless, the growing reduction of fertile land combined with the increasing human population requires systems that can maximize the products and services yielded by each unit of land, while preserving it from erosion and pollution. Properly planned and managed agroforestry systems can cope with these challenges. However, an adequate and comprehensive knowledge is required to make proper decisions, ranging from the selection of the most appropriate species/clones for the specific site to the most efficient harvesting systems.

The Special Issue aims to collect research contributions that will provide a comprehensive vision of agroforestry systems. Although timber and woody biomass are the main products considered, any other product or service associated with trees outside forests will be positively evaluated. Therefore, authors are invited to contribute original manuscripts covering the following subjects:

• Tree genetic resources for timber and biomass production;
• Fast growing plantations;
• Intercropping;
• Short rotation coppice;
• Pest and disease control;
• Interaction of crops (woody and herbaceous);
• Tending techniques and equipment;
• Harvesting systems and machinery;
• Erosion and pollution control;
• Energy and economic balances;
• Phytoremediation;
• Riparian vegetation;
• Industrial timber;
• Biomass fuel.

Dr. Gianni Picchi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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