Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. It helps prevent soil erosion by stabilizing the soil with tree roots, reducing wind and water runoff, and protecting the soil. Trees also mitigate forest fire risks by creating buffer zones and improving soil health by adding organic matter, enhancing water retention, and promoting beneficial microbial activity, which boosts soil fertility and Soil erosion and forest fires are significant global conservation challenges. This sustainable approach fosters synergies between plant and animal species to enhance biodiversity, prevent soil erosion, improve soil health, and increase farm productivity. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effects of a horticulture-based agroforestry system in preventing wind erosion, enhancing soil nutrients, improving soil quality, and increasing crop yields. Horticulture-based agroforestry refers to land-use systems where herbs, shrubs, and trees are grown for food on the same land unit without livestock. It is a mixed cropping system with annuals, biennials, and perennials, providing financial, environmental, and health benefits. This long-lasting conservation farming system includes cereals, fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts, legumes, spices, and condiments. This agroforestry system will provide carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids to the farming community. It is practiced in Asia and Africa for the economic sustainability of small farmers and the provision of nutritious foods. In our farming system, annual and biennial vegetables, muscadines, blueberries, corn, legumes, cover crops, ginger, cocoyam, and turmeric are raised. This agroforestry research program is the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on horticultural crops where pecans are tree crops. Five acres of land on Memphis Silt Loam soil were divided into five blocks for pecans, vegetables, muscadines, blueberries, spices, and condiments. The tree rows are widely spaced, with a plant-to-plant distance of 13.7 meters and a row-to-row distance of 27.4 meters, to prevent forest fires. Inter-cropping, inter-planting, mixed cropping, and cover cropping are practiced with organic manures for nutrient management and soil erosion prevention. Randomized complete blocks (RCBD) and completely randomized designs (CRD) were used to raise perennial crops with organic treatments. The C-factor research technology, developed by Alcorn State University in collaboration with USDA scientists, evaluates growth parameters including upper and lower biomass development once every 15 to 20 days. Soil samples at 15cm deep are collected every year to assess soil health, promoting economic and environmental sustainability.
