World Agroforestry Centre

Aspirations of young people in northern Benin reflect the dynamic social, economic, and environmental realities. They are influenced by conflict and instability in this fragile context. Thus, we examine how these aspirations motivate participation in agricultural and food security programs. We randomly sampled 309 young men and women to derive qualitative narratives with quantitative survey data across Matéri, Kandi, and Natitingou communes in northern Benin. In that way, we identified three primary aspiration clusters (immediate needs, prevalent in Matéri, where food security is critical; personal ambitions, dominant in Kandi, focusing on upward mobility and entrepreneurship; and social obligations, reflecting family and community responsibilities). These aspirations are shaped by a combination of all these drivers-basic needs, social pressures, and personal goals-but show a notable trend toward individual aspirations. Conflict exacerbates challenges and perceived opportunities by fostering self-reliance while undermining trust and collaboration. Respondents perceive Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) programs as externally driven rather than participatory. Future research should explore longitudinal changes in aspirations and the impact of tailored interventions and provide insights for actors seeking to align agricultural and food security programs with community needs in fragile contexts.

Multi-forestry business (Multi Usaha Kehutanan. MUK) is Indonesia’s new paradigm for forest management, focusing on maximizing forest values and ensuring a sustainable production forest. MUK policy is a response to addressing the failures of production forest management. Consequently, all forest companies, including Ecosystem Restoration Concessions (ERC), are required to adopt the MUK paradigm. Ten of 16 ERC licenses officially implemented the MUK framework in 2021 through their approved Ten-Year Plan, designed to optimize revenues from valued commodities and potential forest utilizations. This paper examines the concept, opportunities, policy gaps, and challenges associated with implementing MUK in ERCs. The study employs a qualitative, ex-post, and inductive analysis approach combining quantitative E-survey and statistical analysis. The research reveals that MUK presents an opportunity for forest companies to develop their businesses based on the most profitable commodities and one-bundle rights, enhance forest productivity, protect biodiversity, resolve conflicts, and improve community livelihoods. We propose several measures to support the MUK policy and its challenges, such as creating a specific MUK policy tailored to the needs of ERCs, ensuring clear and clean concession areas, streamlining regulations, fostering a shift in the conduct of the bureaucracy, and reducing administrative burdens.

Promoting gardening among urban residents holds the potential to improve urban diets in low- and middle-income countries, but there is a lack of evidence of impact. This study tests the hypothesis that training urban residents in gardening increases their intake of fruit and vegetables. It uses panel data for 254 control and 425 treatment households from four city corporations in the Dhaka metropolitan area of Bangladesh. Urban residents, 85% of whom were women, were interviewed before the start of an urban gardening program and one year after training and inputs were provided to the treatment group. The study estimated the average treatment effects using a difference-in-difference estimator. Of the 38 outcomes tested, 20 are significant (p < 0.05) with 19 indicating a beneficial effect and one indicating an adverse effect. Among the beneficial effects, there is an increase in the diversity of fruits and vegetables produced (+ 5 species, p < 0.01), the frequency of harvesting (+ 0.64 times/week; p < 0.01), and increased sharing of produce with neighbors (+ 8%, p < 0.01). Regarding food and nutrition, there is an increase in women’s dietary diversity score (+ 0.37 on a 0–10 scale; p < 0.01), women’s minimum dietary diversity (+ 4%; p < 0.01), and in the number of portions of cooked vegetables eaten (+ 0.96 portions/day; p < 0.01). The gardening intervention also contributes to a range of perceived social, personal, and psychological benefits. The adverse effect is an increase in ultra-processed food consumption (+ 19%, p = 0.04). Nevertheless, the results confirm that urban gardening interventions can improve the quality of urban diets alongside other benefits.

Indigenous fruit trees and shrubs (IFTS) play a vital role in ensuring the livelihood and nutritional security of both rural farming communities and the poor urban populations in drylands. The management and conservation of IFTS are customarily done using indigenous knowledge owned by the local people. However, there is a lack of systematic documentation and synthesis regarding the distribution and diversity of IFTS in Tigray, Ethiopia. This paper aims to analyze the richness and diversity of IFTS species across agroecologies and land use types and to identify the management options to conserve IFTS. Data were collected using field observation, informal discussions, and semi-structured and structured questionnaires administered to 495 respondents. The species diversity in home gardens and farmlands was calculated using Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index. The similarity in species composition between land uses and agroecologies was calculated using the Sorensen coefficient of similarity. The study documented a total of 44 edible IFTS species, belonging to 25 families. Cordia africana is the versatile IFTS found across the three agroecologies. The highest number of species was recorded in lowland agroecology. Agroecology and land use were found to have a significant impact on the richness of the IFTS species (P < 0.05). Communal forests harbored higher diversity compared to other land uses, while home gardens in the midland showed the highest diversity of species. There was a high similarity in species composition between land uses in the highlands. The level and type of management an IFTS receives depends on the value the species provides. Species highly valued by the community get better protection and post-planting management than species considered less beneficial. The common indigenous management practices provided to the IFTS are protection, watering, pruning, and support when at the seedling stage. These findings highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts and appropriate management strategies to safeguard the long-term existence of IFTS in human-impacted landscapes. Agroforestry systems could serve as an in-situ conservation option to conserve IFTS through domestication and sustainable use.

view full article: https://rdcu.be/ehEgq The interaction between climate change and agricultural intensification contributes to biodiversity loss, while widespread degradation of land and water undermine food system productivity. Agroecological principles aim to guide food systems transformation but rarely refer to water or aquatic foods, which are critical elements of nutritious, sustainable and equitable food systems. Here we examine the principles and frameworks presented in agroecological literature and suggest rephrasing of six of the principles to incorporate water, aquatic foods and land- to seascapes. We recommend three cross-sectoral actions that leverage aquatic features in agroecosystems to facilitate more effective transition pathways towards sustainable food systems.

Agricultural lands on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro comprise diverse and complex, smallholder cropping systems. This study explores the variation in soil fertility across different altitudes and their influence on cropping systems to recommend appropriate soil management practices. The study site spanned three altitudinal zones: upland (1438–1698 m), midland (901–1337 m) and lowland (680–834 m). Soil samples from 50 plots along the 25-km transect were analysed for chemical properties. Complementary data were collected to understand the cropping systems through six transect walks: two for each land use. Results indicate that soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N are highest in the upland and decrease with altitude, while exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na) increase as altitude decreases. Soil pH is acidic at higher altitudes and alkaline at lower altitudes. Available P decreases with altitude, whereas available S shows no significant relationship with elevation. Overall, soil fertility status was better in the order of upland > midland > lowland, indicating a decreasing suitability trend for supporting crop production. Elevation significantly influenced the distribution patterns of soil nutrient levels (p<0.05). Upland and midland zones employ farmyard manure application, crop residue retention and cultivation under shade to preserve soil moisture and enhance biomass accumulation. In contrast, the lowland relies heavily on inorganic fertilisers, with nutrient depletion evident due to biomass transfer to higher altitudes. Soil erosion is critical in all three zones, necessitating erosion control measures. Recommendations include soil nutrient amendments in the upland and midland by liming to increase soil pH and address P deficiency and in the lowland through reducing salinity, use of nitrogenous fertilisers, biomass retention and incorporating leguminous plants. Cultivation of crops adapted to the conditions along the three zones is also advocated. These findings aim to improve soil management and crop productivity, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

This study focused on investigating the carrying capacity of individual grazing lands in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. We collected data on above-ground biomass of natural pasture from 63 farms during the wet and dry seasons to capture the seasonal variation of forages. Since the grazing system is based on individual farms, we clustered farm size into three clusters, namely ≤10.9 ha; 11-20.9 ha and ≥21 ha. Dry matter and chemical composition of biomass samples was determined. Additionally, as crop residues are a significant feed resource for farmers, we also estimated their production for the year 2023. Dry matter exhibited significant difference (p<0.0001) across both farm sizes and seasons. Similarly, crude protein showed significant difference (p<0.0001) across plot sizes and seasons. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) showed only significant difference across the seasons (p<0.0001). Acid detergent fibre (ADF) showed significant difference (p<0.05) across both plot sizes and seasons. The interaction between plot size and season was significant difference (p<0.0001) for NDF and ADF (p=0.0085). Furthermore, the tropical Livestock Unit (TLU), showed that the available biomass in the farm of 11-20 ha could feed only the TLU for a period of 58 days while the farm of ≤10 ha could only feed for 42 days whilst the crop residues could meet the dry matter intake of 171,750 TLU annually. The findings suggest the effective crop residue utilization and highlight that proper grazing land management strategies should be applied for optimizing cattle productivity, ensuring sustainability, and climate resilience.

Flowering and fruiting phenology can have large impacts on a plant's reproductive success. In many plant species, these phenological events are controlled by seasonal climatic cues, resulting in one‐year reproductive cycles. However, parts of SE Asian tropical forests have an aseasonal climate with irregular fluctuations. This database comprises phenology records collected from 1993 to 2011 at the community level in an aseasonal lowland dipterocarp forest of the Lambir Hills National Park in Borneo. Observations were made every two weeks at three sites: The Canopy Biology Plot (CBP) with tree towers and walkways, the Operation Raleigh Tower (ORT) area with a tree tower for tourist attraction, and the Crane Plot located between the CBP and ORT, where plants were monitored from terraces on a canopy crane installed in 2000. The dataset includes in total 172,521 records of 450, 118, and 51 plants in CBP, Crane Plot, and ORT, respectively, representing 303 species. The number of individuals per species ranges from 1 to 21, and 64.9% are represented by only one. The plants in the censuses were mostly trees but also included lianas and epiphytes. The data have been used to study the causes and consequences of synchronized flowering and fruiting at the community level, a phenomenon unique to the region. Previous studies have shown that this synchronization is synergistically driven by cool air temperature and drought. Irregular flowering and fruiting have significant impacts on flower visitors, frugivores, forest material cycling, and plant regeneration. The dataset can also be used for comparing the phenology of the same species or group among forests and regions and exploring its association with climates. One major concern regarding tropical forests in the area is the effects of climate change on this community‐wide masting regime, which could disrupt forest regeneration and ecosystem processes. The dataset could be an important source of information for conservation efforts aimed at protecting these amazingly diverse forest ecosystems. This dataset can be freely used for non‐commercial purposes. Users of these data should cite this data paper in any publications resulting from its use and acknowledge the Forest Department Sarawak and Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

Genotype, environment, and genotype‐by‐environment (G×E) interactions play a critical role in shaping crop phenotypes. Here, a large‐scale, multi‐environment hybrid maize dataset is used to construct and validate an automated machine learning framework that integrates environmental and genomic data for improved accuracy and efficiency in genetic analyses and genomic predictions. Dimensionality‐reduced environmental parameters (RD_EPs) aligned with developmental stages are applied to establish linear relationships between RD_EPs and traits to assess the influence of environment on phenotype. Genome‐wide association study identifies 539 phenotypic plasticity trait‐associated markers (PP‐TAMs), 223 environmental stability TAMs (Main‐TAMs), and 92 G×E‐TAMs, revealing distinct genetic bases for PP and G×E interactions. Training genomic prediction models with both TAMs and RD_EPs increase prediction accuracy by 14.02% to 28.42% over that of genome‐wide marker approaches. These results demonstrate the potential of utilizing environmental data for improving genetic analysis and genomic selection, offering a scalable approach for developing climate‐adaptive maize varieties.

Effective conservation strategies require a comprehensive understanding of human‐nature relationships, including the factors driving these interactions. Without this context, interventions risk being impractical or ineffective, potentially leaving both people and nature worse off. We used mixed methods to understand human‐nature interactions in Kasungu, Malawi. We specifically examined people's use of natural resources and perceptions of wildlife conservation and their implications for livelihoods and conservation. Over 90% of participants reported collecting natural resources such as firewood, grass, medicinal plants and fruits to support their livelihoods. While most resources were collected for household use, some served both income generation and domestic purposes. Kasungu National Park plays a critical role in providing resources, though harvesting is illegal, alongside neighbouring farms and community forests. Households near the park, women and those of lower economic status were more likely to rely on the park for resources. Additionally, crop and livestock loss experiences were linked to higher resource collection rates. Participants generally expressed positive attitudes towards wildlife and conservation. However, certain factors including proximity to the park, women, food insecurity, and crop and livestock loss were linked to negative attitudes. Our findings offer valuable insights for the design and implementation of conservation initiatives and policies, particularly in communities heavily dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. Conservation programmes and policies around protected areas should capitalise on the existing positive attitudes towards nature by fostering better community engagement. Locally led, inclusive and nature‐positive programmes could simultaneously benefit conservation efforts and improve livelihoods. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Background Drought is a major abiotic stress in sub-Saharan Africa, impacting maize growth and development leading to severe yield loss. Drought tolerance is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes, making direct grain yield selection ineffective. To dissect the genetic architecture of grain yield and flowering traits under drought stress, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on a panel of 236 maize lines testcrossed and evaluated under managed drought and optimal growing conditions in multiple environments using seven multi-locus GWAS models (mrMLM, FASTmrMLM, FASTmrEMMA, pLARmEB, pKWmEB, ISIS EM-BLASSO, and FARMCPU) from mrMLM and GAPIT R packages. Genomic prediction with RR-BLUP model was applied on BLUEs across locations under optimum and drought conditions. Results A total of 172 stable and reliable quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were identified, of which 77 are associated with GY, AD, SD, ASI, PH, EH, EPO and EPP under drought and 95 are linked to GY, AD, SD, ASI, PH, EH, EPO and EPP under optimal conditions. Among these QTNs, 17 QTNs explained over 10% of the phenotypic variation (R² ≥ 10%). Furthermore, 43 candidate genes were discovered and annotated. Two major candidate genes, Zm00001eb041070 closely associated with grain yield near peak QTN, qGY_DS1.1 (S1_216149215) and Zm00001eb364110 closely related to anthesis-silking interval near peak QTN, qASI_DS8.2 (S8_167256316) were identified, encoding AP2-EREBP transcription factor 60 and TCP-transcription factor 20, respectively under drought stress. Haplo-pheno analysis identified superior haplotypes for qGY_DS1.1 (S1_216149215) associated with the higher grain yield under drought stress. Genomic prediction revealed moderate to high prediction accuracies under optimum and drought conditions. Conclusion The lines carrying superior haplotypes can be used as potential donors in improving grain yield under drought stress. Integration of genomic selection with GWAS results leads not only to an increase in the prediction accuracy but also to validate the function of the identified candidate genes as well increase in the accumulation of favorable alleles with minor and major effects in elite breeding lines. This study provides valuable insight into the genetic architecture of grain yield and secondary traits under drought stress.

Trees, especially indigenous species play a key role in the improvement or maintenance of soil fertility, and the overall ecosystem functioning. Trees have long been utilized in various ways including in agricultural production to optimize land productivity. Acacia tortilis is one of the trees that play a critical role in arid and semi-arid environments and is widely distributed in Africa and the Middle East. A. tortilis provides numerous benefits in the form of products e.g., timber, fuel wood, fodder, food, and gum, services, for example, improvement of soil health, cultural benefits, and shade, and medicinal properties. It is highly valued among dwellers of arid and semi-arid regions due to its ability to tolerate extreme environmental conditions such as drought, salinity, drifting of sand dunes, and management practices like cutting and browsing. The biology, origin, distribution, ecology, morphology, and growth management of A. tortilis and its mutual associations with other organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, along with biotechnological studies carried out in the species, has been outlined in the chapter.

To address food and nutrition security in the face of burgeoning global populations and erratic climatic conditions there is a need to include nutrient dense, climatic resilient but neglected indigenous fruit trees in agrifood systems. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Kei Apple, Dovyalis afra, a neglected indigenous African fruit tree with untapped potential to contribute to nutrient security and improved livelihoods. Our long-read-based genome assembly comprises 440 Mbp sequence across 1190 contigs with a N50 and L50 of 13.3 Mbp and 11, respectively. We also annotated the genome and identified 27,449 protein-coding genes. Our genome assembly provides a valuable resource for unlocking the food security and nutraceutical potential of Kei apple.

Background/Objectives: Cowpea is an important legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and beyond. However, access to phosphorus (P), a critical element for plant growth and development, is a significant constraint in SSA. Thus, it is essential to have high P-use efficiency varieties to achieve increased yields in environments where little-to- no phosphate fertilizers are applied. Methods: In this study, crop phenology, yield, and grain P efficiency traits were assessed in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations across ten environments under high- and low-P soil conditions to identify traits’ response to different soil P levels and associated quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Single-environment (SEA) and multi-environment (MEA) QTL analyses were conducted for days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), biomass yield (BYLD), grain yield (GYLD), grain P-use efficiency (gPUE) and grain P-uptake efficiency (gPUpE). Results: Phenotypic data indicated significant variation among the RILs, and inadequate soil P had a negative impact on flowering, maturity, and yield traits. A total of 40 QTLs were identified by SEA, with most explaining greater than 10% of the phenotypic variance, indicating that many major-effect QTLs contributed to the genetic component of these traits. Similarly, MEA identified 23 QTLs associated with DTF, DTM, GYLD, and gPUpE under high- and low-P environments. Thirty percent (12/40) of the QTLs identified by SEA were also found by MEA, and some of those were identified in more than one P environment, highlighting their potential in breeding programs targeting PUE. QTLs on chromosomes Vu03 and Vu08 exhibited consistent effects under both high- and low-P conditions. In addition, candidate genes underlying the QTL regions were identified. Conclusions: This study lays the foundation for molecular breeding for PUE and contributes to understanding the genetic basis of cowpea response in different soil P conditions. Some of the identified genomic loci, many being novel QTLs, could be deployed in marker-aided selection and fine mapping of candidate genes.

Trees play a vital role in combating climate change by sequestering carbon and helping farmers adapt to and become more resilient to future climatic changes. Understanding the factors influencing households’ tree-planting decisions is essential for shaping policies and initiatives aimed at increasing on-farm tree cover, improving farmers’ incomes, and achieving national climate and land restoration goals. This study explores the determinants of farmers’ tree-growing decisions in Kiambu County, Kenya. Data was collected through interviews with 120 households and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Probit, and double-hurdle models to assess the factors driving tree planting and diversification aspirations. Results reveal that 97% of farmers grow trees for their products, while 26% do so for ecosystem services. A majority (93%) are aware of climate change, with 66% and 71% willing to plant more trees for climate mitigation and adaptation, respectively. Probit analysis shows that factors such as land ownership, dependency ratio, labor availability, number of farms, and the belief in trees' importance to households significantly (p ≤ 0.05) encourage tree planting. Furthermore, education, availability of land for tree planting, and food security influence the decision to diversify tree species. Perceived benefits, livestock ownership, and access to piped water positively affect future tree-planting efforts. However, a one-level increase in food insecurity reduces tree species diversification by 0.88. Farmers are primarily motivated to plant trees that provide direct product benefits. Therefore, strengthening education, land ownership policies, and food security measures is crucial for promoting sustainable tree-growing initiatives.

As cities grow, restoring and protecting urban forests is essential. Analyzing the diverse species within soil seed banks offers key insights for successful management. These seed banks hold historical and current vegetation data, helping predict future patterns and guide restoration efforts by natural regeneration. The study aimed to analysis the soil seed bank, composition, look into the diversity and potential for restoration. Data were collected and analyzed from 85 plots with elevations ranging from 2500 to 3000 m. The investigation was conducted in the mountain forest landscape of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 22 plant families, 44 genera and 56 species were found in the five-altitudinal ranges. Among the identified plants, 40 species were herbs, which represents 71.4% of the total seed bank flora and the highest number of herb species recorded in all altitudinal ranges. Five tree species were recorded from the seed bank flora, two of which were native (Juniperus procera, and Vachellia abyssinica) and three of which were exotic species (Cuprressus lusitanica, Acacia merensii and Eucalyptus globulus). Across all elevations (altitudinal gradients), seed density exhibited a decreasing trend from the top layer (0–3 cm) to the bottom layer (6–9 cm) of the soil samples. Low similarities between the soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation were recorded, with Jaccard's Coefficient of Similarity (JCS) values ranging from 0.133 to 0.16 and Sørensen's coefficients (S) ranging from 0.24 to 0.28. Juniperus procera and Vachillea abyssinica, native and characteristic species of dry Afromontane vegetation of Ethiopia, were found in the soil seed bank suggests potential for restoration through natural regeneration. There are three exotic species (Cuprressus lusitanica, Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus globulus) which are providing different ecosystem services are recorded in soil seed bank. Thus, this study recommend that the soil seed bank can play a role to restore native and characteristics species such as Junipers procera and Vachillea abyssinica in peri-urban Afromontane forest of Addis Ababa coupled with other restoration mechanism.

Incorporating sewage sludge (SS) into soils presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option compared to conventional farming practices. However, SS could be perceived as a double-edged sword, as it may contain a broad spectrum of contaminants, such as heavy metals (HMs), microplastics (MPs), Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PIE), and personal care products (PSPs), raising concerns for soil health, water resources, food safety, and human health. Council Directive 86/278/EEC, which regulates SS application in agriculture, specifies limits for six HMs but has not undergone substantive revisions since its inception in 1986, until the release of the updated working document SWD-2023-{final 158}. This study critically examines the legislative landscape across the European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), identifying heterogeneity in implementation, regulatory gaps, and the absence of thresholds for emerging contaminants. The results reveal significant disparities in the permissible concentrations of HMs across MSs and in comparison to international guidelines established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, the absence of regulatory measures for MPs, PIE, and other common soil pollutants underscores critical deficiencies in the current framework. These inconsistencies contribute to varying levels of soil health across the EU and highlight the need for a harmonized approach. The findings of this study highlight the imperative for a comprehensive overhaul of the EU legislative framework governing SS application. As evidenced, the establishment of harmonized contaminant thresholds, rigorous monitoring protocols, and regulatory provisions for emergent pollutants is essential for addressing the identified regulatory gaps, enhancing legislative coherence, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices aligned with the EU’s environmental and public health objectives.

A global assessment of the status of tertiary, vocational, and technical forest education and training found deficits in the inclusion of knowledge and student diversity. Coverage of forest services and cultural and social issues was characterized as weak in the curricula of many programs. The inclusion of traditional and Indigenous knowledge was frequently poor or absent. Gaps were found in enrollment at tertiary education levels with respect to diversity by gender, race/ethnicity, and other societal groups. If unaddressed, forest researchers, professionals, and workers will continue to lack familiarity with different knowledge systems and the importance of inclusive representation. Improvements in forest education related curricula, research, monitoring, policy, recruitment, and promotion are recommended. Without remedial action to build a representative, skilled, and knowledgeable workforce, prospects for forests to meet local, national, and global goals are at risk. Improved social and knowledge diversity in forest education is paramount for the future of forests.

This study investigated the impact of tree diversity on soil fertility and aboveground carbon biomass in cocoa-based land-use systems across Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa-producing regions. A total of 213 plots, each measuring 1,000 m² and representing cocoa monocultures, agroforestry systems, and fallows, were surveyed across six sites. These plots were analyzed for tree species diversity and aboveground carbon biomass. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–20 cm and 20–50 cm from each plot and analyzed for various soil properties. Results showed that tree species richness and abundance were highest in fallows, followed by agroforestry systems, with the lowest diversity observed in monocropped cocoa farms. Aboveground carbon biomass was comparable between agroforestry systems and fallows, both significantly outperforming cocoa monocultures in carbon storage. Although 15 soil physicochemical parameters did not vary significantly across land-use systems, positive correlations were identified between tree abundance and soil potassium, aboveground carbon biomass and soil pH, and marginally between species richness and exchangeable magnesium. Negative correlations emerged between aboveground carbon biomass and soil aluminum content, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus in deeper soil layers. Cocoa monocultures, particularly in San-Pédro, displayed the lowest species diversity and aboveground carbon biomass. Agroforestry systems in Duékoué and San-Pédro exhibited moderate species diversity and carbon levels, with an abundance of exotic species and lower sand content. In contrast, fallows, predominantly in Oumé, recorded the highest tree species richness, aboveground carbon biomass, native tree dominance, and superior soil fertility (elevated pH, CEC, Mg, Ca, K) in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Tree diversity and aboveground carbon biomass significantly correlated with land-use system and their effects on soil properties varied with soil depth. These findings highlight the role of shade tree diversity in improving topsoil fertility, which benefits cocoa plants, while nutrients from deeper soil layers support shade trees, enhancing aboveground carbon biomass

Crop models can improve our understanding of crop responses to environmental conditions and farming practices. However, uncertainties in model inputs can notably impact the quality of the outputs. This study aimed at quantifying the uncertainty in soil information and analyse how it propagates through the Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils model to affect yield and fertilizer recommendation rates using Monte Carlo simulation. Additional objectives were to analyse the uncertainty contributions of the individual soil inputs to model output uncertainty and discuss strategies to communicate uncertainty to end-users. The results showed that the impact of soil input uncertainty on model output uncertainty was significant and varied spatially. Comparison of the results of a deterministic model run with the mean of the Monte Carlo simulation runs showed systematic differences in yield predictions, with Monte Carlo simulations on average predicting a yield that was 0.62 tonnes ha⁻¹ lower than the deterministic run. Similar systematic differences were observed for fertilizer recommendations, with Monte Carlo simulations recommending up to 59, 42, and 20 kg ha⁻¹ lower nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer applications, respectively. Stochastic sensitivity analysis showed that pH was the main source of uncertainty for K fertilizer (81.6%) and that soil organic carbon contributed most to the uncertainty of N fertilizer application (97%). Uncertainty in P fertilizer application mostly came from uncertainty in extractable phosphorus (55%) and exchangeable potassium (20%). A threshold probability map designed using statistical predictions served as a visual aid that could enable farmers to swiftly make informed decisions about fertilizer application locations. The study highlights the importance of refining the accuracy of soil maps as well as incorporating uncertainty in input data, which improves QUEFTS model predictions and offers valuable insights into the relationship between soil information accuracy and reliable crop modeling for sustainable agricultural decisions.