Table 1 Characteristics of the Agroforestry practices (AFP) in the drylands of southern Ethiopia

1

Homegarden based agroforestry practices (HAFP).

No use of fertilizer, no grazing, selective cutting.

E. ventricosum, and trees species such as C. arabica, P. americana, M. indica, G. robusta, C. africana, and F. vasta covered > 75% of the land area and is dominated with dense number of different vegetables and herbs.

Pruning, thinning, weeding, composting, and application of organic manures.

2

Cropland based agroforestry practices (ClAFP).

High use of fertilizer, selective cutting, grazing after crop harvest.

Sparse types of trees species like P. americana, M. indica, C. africana, F. vasta and C. macrostachyus.

Pruning, grass mulch, application of inorganic fertilizers and weeding

3

Woodlot based agroforestry practices (WlAFP).

No of use fertilizer, grazing

selective cutting.

Dense number of Eucalyptus species and tress like acacia species, C. macrostachyus, J. procera grows.

Pruning, thinning, coppicing, pollarding, and weeding.

4

Trees on soil and water conservation-based agroforestry practices (TSWAFP).

High use of fertilizer and grazing after crop harvest.

Sparse types of trees species such as C. macrostachyus, musa, V. auriculifera and herbs like grass species grow on physical SWC structures.

Pruning, grass mulch, application of inorganic fertilizers and weeding.