AND SHRUBS FOR AGROFORESTRV

ABSTRACT- An overview of the various agroforestry systems and practices that exist around the tropics and subtropics indicates that there are various ways in which farmers deliberately incorporate trees and shrubs ou farm production fields. Many of the species so incorporated are legumes. The role of woody perennials in agroforestry systems can be productive and/or protective. The former includes the production of food, fodder, fuelwood, mulch, green manure, wood and various other useful products. The most important protective funetions entail lhe use of woody perennials for soil protection and conservation, and for enhance-ment of soil's productivity ou a sustainable basis, especially ou account of the nitrogen--fixing capacity of lhe vast majority of them. Legumes are not the only group of woody species that have potential role ia agroforestry, but they offer by far the maximum range of choice of woody species for agroforestry iii terms of their economie uses as well as ecological adaptabiity. In addition to the several leguminous woody species that are well known in agroforestry, there are many whose potentiais have hitherto not been fully understood. An evaluation of the agroforestry potentiais of a fewleguminous species from lhe point of view of their growt