Integrating millets into agroforestry systems

A climate-smart strategy for sustainable land use and livelihood improvement with special emphasis on India

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19586695
AutoresJyotiraditya Das (Central University of Odisha), Umesh Sharma (0000-0002-5198-9379, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, autor de correspondencia), Neeraj Sankhyan (Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry), Shilpa Sharma (0000-0002-9537-320X, Lovely Professional University), Vinay Chauhan (0000-0002-0560-3981), V S Chauhan (0000-0002-6507-1585, Dehradun Institute of Technology University), Subhasmita Parida (Central University of Odisha), Aiswaryalakshmi A R, A R Aiswaryalakshmi (Central University of Odisha)
Año2025
Volumen22
Páginas101087
Fecha de publicación2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTrees Forests and People (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2666-7193 • E-ISSN: 2666-7193
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101087
OpenAlexW4416041224
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas91

Integration of millets in agroforestry enhances soil and biodiversity. • Millet-based systems improve climate resilience in rainfed farming. • Combines traditional knowledge with modern breeding approaches. • Identifies policy gaps for millet–agroforestry adoption in India. • Recommends strategies to scale millet–tree systems sustainably. Conventional monocropping practices often characterized by limited inputs, declining soil health, and vulnerability to climate extremes pose significant challenges to sustainable food production and land management across dryland and rainfed agro-ecosystems. In this context, the integration of millets into agroforestry systems is gradually emerging as a viable strategy to enhance ecological stability, crop productivity, and rural livelihoods. Millets such as Eleusine coracana, Pennisetum glaucum, Setaria italica are hardy, nutrient-dense, and climate-resilient cereals requiring minimal external inputs which makes them particularly suited for diversified agroforestry models. This review synthesizes global and regional evidence particularly from India on the performance, sustainability benefits, and agronomic viability of millet-based agroforestry systems. Studies indicate that combining millets with multipurpose tree species improves soil organic carbon, nitrogen availability, and moisture retention, while supporting higher land-use efficiency and biodiversity conservation. Millet-based intercropping with legumes, oilseeds, and fruit trees under agroforestry enhances nutrient cycling and economic returns by optimizing land equivalent ratios and benefit-cost ratios. Recent advances in millet improvement through molecular breeding, genomics, and genome editing are accelerating varietal development for intercropping suitability and stress resilience. Additionally, the review highlights the crucial role of traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous land-use practices in shaping successful millet-tree integrations. Despite promising outcomes, research gaps remain in optimizing tree-crop combinations, planting densities, and input regimes for different agro-ecological zones. Strategic policy interventions, participatory research, and institutional support are needed to mainstream these systems into national and regional agricultural development frameworks

Agriculture · Climate resilience · Ecosystem services · Intercropping · Land use · Livelihood · Monocropping · Productivity · Sustainability · Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems · Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability