Multistrata Agroforestry Systems: Spatial and Temporal Utilization of Resources for Higher Production and Better Income

Multistrata agroforestry systems (MSAFs) are an important category of agroforestry systems where the land is occupied by different strata of vegetation with unique characteristics occupying both spatial and temporal space. It is an age-old practice of growing different species in less space that meets food-producing systems and also maintains ecological integrity, delivering a wide range of products and services. These multistrata include of coffee, cacao, tea, and shade trees, as well as home gardens and multistory tree gardens. This system offers possibilities for the arrangement of various tree species, shrubs, grasses, and vines based on the needs of the farmers. The diversity of crop and tree species generates changes in various morphological, phonological, physiological, and edaphic characteristics that influence the functioning of MSAFs through competition or facilitation combinations. In this chapter, the importance of MSAFs, factors and criteria for selection of species, species planted under multistory gardens, spatial arrangement and planting densities, and the agroecological functions of MSAFs were discussed, covering various prominent MSAFs, viz., home gardens, cocoa- and coffee-based systems, and cardamom-based agroforestry in India.