Meaning & use
agroforestry
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
A way of farming in which trees are grown together with crops or animals on the same land.
Grammar: Uncountable: agroforestry is useful, not 'agroforestries are useful'.
Patterns
- practice agroforestry
- agroforestry systems
- use agroforestry to do something
The family practices agroforestry, growing coffee under tall shade trees.
Agroforestry can reduce soil erosion while still producing food.
Researchers compared agroforestry with conventional single-crop farming.
noununcountabletechnical
The study or science of combining trees with farming.
Grammar: Names a field of study, like 'economics' or 'biology'.
Patterns
- study agroforestry
- a degree in agroforestry
She studied agroforestry at an agricultural college.
The department offers a course in agroforestry.
Common combinations
- agroforestry system
- Their agroforestry system combines fruit trees with maize.
- practice agroforestry
- More farmers are choosing to practice agroforestry on steep slopes.
- agroforestry project
- The agroforestry project planted thousands of trees last spring.
- benefits of agroforestry
- The report explains the benefits of agroforestry for dry regions.
- agroforestry techniques
- Agroforestry techniques can improve soil quality over time.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tree farming
- Everyday and vaguer; it often suggests growing trees as the main crop rather than mixing trees with crops.
- silvoarable farming
- A technical term for mixing trees specifically with crops; agroforestry is the broader word that also covers animals.
Opposites
Word family
- agroforestry noun
- The practice itself.
- agroforester noun
- A person who uses or studies agroforestry.
- forestry noun
- The managing of forests, usually without crops.
Commonly confused: agroforestry or forestry? agroforestry or agriculture?
agroforestry vs forestry
Forestry is about managing forests, while agroforestry deliberately mixes trees with farming on the same land.
agroforestry vs agriculture
Agriculture is the general word for farming; agroforestry is one specific tree-based method within it.
Practice
What does 'agroforestry' mean?
Choose one answer.
Agroforestry combines trees with farming on the same land. Option 1 describes deforestation, option 3 describes forestry research, and option 4 describes a timber business, none of which is the mixing of trees and farming.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “agroforestry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.