Using EcoAF to design and model agroforestry systems
EcoAF helps design agroforestry plots, create management plans and simulate growth using the CAPSIS platform. It allows users to import farm data, plan tree placements, and compare designs with 2D/3D visuals. An end-user guide is now available online.
Agroforestry is the combination of trees and crops. But beyond the simple association, for farmers engaged in an agroforestry system, it is mainly about taking advantage of the services rendered while limiting negative externalities. Among the latter, competition for light is probably the factor that slows down the largest number of farmers. Existing tools such as Hi-sAFe can calculate the impacts of light and model production but require extensive experience to operate.
Therefore, a team of researchers utilised the same CAPSIS modelling platform to create more friendly models for advisors or educators.
EcoAF is a tool for designing future agroforestry plots to produce management plans and simulate growth and competition for light. This tool, based on the CAPSIS modelling platform run by CIRAD AMAP, is primarily intended for agroforestry advisers. This document provides step by step instructions for the use of EcoAF. With EcoAF, it is possible to download farm parcel data, place if needed the polygons of main soil types, then play with possible future designs. It is possible to choose whatever combinations of tree lines, straight or broken or in spots, around or inside the field, decide where to plant trees, shrubs and grasses, in hedges or placed points, the species/varieties and the quality of the bundles of plants. The growth will depend on further choices on how one intends to manage the bundle of plants, the plantation, then all the components during their life. The EcoAF module can import data of tree measurement from the DIAFnostic module, which helps the end-users to measure and follow the tree performance of his project. Each simulation will include variability and hazards, 2D and 3D graphic interfaces and visualizations and linked datasheets allow a comparison of the consequences of different design and management choices.
The EcoAF module is developed in French and English on CAPSIS (Computer-Aided Projection of Strategies In Silviculture; www.inra.fr/capsis).
An end-user guide is now available online or in pdf format in English, French and Spanish. https://docs.models-agroforestry.eu/en/ecoaf/presentation/
Learn more here:
https://docs.models-agroforestry.eu/en/diafnostic/presentation/
https://docs.models-agroforestry.eu/en/ecoaf/presentation/
Read the full report here (wil be added soon)