Global analysis of yield benefits and risks from integrating trees with rice and implications for agroforestry research in Africa

While agroforestry is a well-established approach for agroecological intensification, rice less often integrated with trees than other annual staple crops. The benefits and risks from practices have not been systematically explored. Considering the need strategies that may address low fertility high degradation of arable soils contribute to smallholder farm productivity, livelihoods climate resilience, such exploration would both be timely relevant. This study, therefore, reviews published literature on integrating in production worldwide provides perspectives future research, special attention Africa, where potential sustainable productivity enhancement deemed highest. Worldwide, six improved are distinguished: hedgerow alley-cropping, short-term (0.5–4 years) fallows, pre-rice green manuring, biomass transfer, arranged – tree intercropping irregularly dispersed fields. 87 publications reviewed were associated 204 woody perennial species world-wide. Rice provide range products services farmers but yield only quantitative performance indicator reported widely enough enable meta-analysis. Frequently comparative or additional effects fertilizer application, made it possible include this aspect analyses. Across all types enumerated, average effect adding compared no-fertilizer no-tree control + 38%. most beneficial terms enhancing manuring (100% data points showing positive responses practices) alley-cropping (21% cases overall 64% was applied). Yield reductions occurred fertilized mono-crop (in 95% cases) unfertilized short fallow practice (50% showed reduction due competition relay stage). Tree combined enhancements (alongside services) wide environmental adaptability across African continent, Sesbania rostrata, Aeschynomene afraspera , Acacia auriculiformis Gliricidia sepium Gmelia arborea . cropping depend type used how each interacts application. Further research needed investigate impact different ways wider environmental, social economic sustainability aspects, driving increasing interest agroforestry. • World-wide, 6 Pre-rice manure, transfer hedgerows increased most. rostrata effective as manure. A broad useful transfer. benefit alley-cropping.