Figures (5)  Tables (3)
    • Figure 1. 

      Outline of synergy between tree, livestock and crops in cropland.

    • Figure 2. 

      Consensus mapping based on ensemble modelling. The bioclimatic suitability for each of the selected species, with the observed point distributions overlain. ‘a’ to ‘t’ are species codes for the fodder tree species as listed in Table 2.

    • Figure 3. 

      Climatic suitability index of important crops in China; Millet include both pearl and foxtail millet.

    • Figure 4. 

      Major areas suitable for integration of selected fodder trees with crops and livestock. ‘a’ to ‘t’ are species codes for the fodder species as listed in Table 2.

    • Figure 5. 

      Map of eco-regions, cropland and the crop-livestock production systems in China: 1. systems based on rangeland; 2. systems based on grain crops; 3. systems based on crop/pasture rotations; 4. agro-silvopastoral systems; and 5. systems based on ponds (adapted from Hou et al.[8] and Broxton et al.[52])

    • SpeciesGrowth rateFodder valueSoil improvementPotential economic usesAgroforestry
      Ailanthus altissimaFastHigh especially for goat, good for silkwormC-sequestration, soil stabilizationMedicinal, timber, fuelwoodShelterbelt, potential for cultivation in heavily polluted areas and drought tolerant; known to have allelopathic effect, and therefore, proper management is necessary
      Amorpha fruticosaFastHigh, bee forageN-fixation, Erosion controlMedicinal, edible, industrial usesShelterbelt, tolerates poor sandy soils, dry soils, limey soils, acidic soils
      Arundo donaxFastHighC-sequestration, soil stabilizationBioenergy feedstock, medicinal, thatchingShelterbelt, windbreak, ability to grow in different soil types and climatic conditions
      Boehmeria clidemioidesFastHighRemediate soils with heavy metals contaminationFiber, medicinalLocal ethnobotanical value, planted in gullies
      Boehmeria niveaFastHighPrevent soil erosionImportant fiber crop in China, medicinal, ediblePlanted in gullies
      Broussonetia papyriferaFastHighIncrease phosphorus and nitrogen and improve soil moistureFood, paper making, bioenergy feedstock, fiber, medicinal, timberShelterbelt and windbreak, economic fallow crop, leading to increased crop production
      Castanea mollissimaMediumHighIncrease organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contentEdible, bioenergy feedstock, produce utilizable timber every 10 yearAlley cropping, silviculture practices, good results from Castanea-tea intercropping
      Cyclobalanopsis glaucaMediumHighC-sequestration, improve soil nitrogenFuelwood, bioenergy feedstock, timberBranch and twigs are good material for mushroom culture
      Debregeasia orientalisFastHighImprove metal contaminated soilEdible, high-quality fiberLocal ethnobotanical value
      Elaeagnus angustifoliaFastMedium, good bee forageN-fixation, Erosion control or dune stabilizationEdible, industrial value, bioenergy feedstock, timberShelterbelts, windbreaks or protective plantings
      Ficus heteromorphaFastMediumStabilize soil and increase fertility of soilMedicinal, edible, paper making, pig feedShelterbelts, windbreaks
      Leucaena leucocephalaFastHigh, good bee forageN-fixation, C-sequestrationFiber, edible, timberVery good for a maize crop, alley cropping systems
      Machilus gambleiFastHigh, used for Muga silkworm (Antherea assamensis) in NE IndiaN-fixation, C-sequestrationEdible, fiber, medicinal, timber, potential for bioenergy feedstockLocal ethnobotanical value
      Morus albaFastHigh, good for silkwormErosion controlEdible, industrial value, bioenergy feedstockShade and shelter, windbreak
      Populus adenopodaFastHighIncrease in soil organic carbon, soil stabilizationTimber, fiber, bioenergy feedstockShade and shelter, windbreak
      Populus davidianaFastHighIncrease in soil organic carbon, soil stabilizationTimber, bioenergy feedstockShade and shelter, windbreak
      Populus tomentosaFastHighIncrease in soil organic carbon, soil stabilizationTimber, fiber, bioenergy feedstockShade and shelter, windbreak
      Salix babylonicaFastHigh, bee forageErosion controlMedicinal, fiber, light timber, bioenergy feedstockShade and shelter, windbreak
      Saurauia thyrsifloraFastHighErosion controlEdible, medicinalLocal ethnobotanical value, high milk production in livestock
      Ulmus pumilaFastHighErosion control, stabilizing sand dunesFiber, medicinal, edible, timberShelterbelt, windbreak, enhance crop production
      Source: literature listed in ESM 1

      Table 1. 

      Characteristic of selected fodder trees, ethnobotanical notes, and agroforestry uses.

    • GLMMAXENTMAXLIKERFRPARTENSEMBLE
      Spp codeSppWeightWeightWeightWeightWeightAUCKappamaxTPR+TNR
      aAilanthus altissima0.220.240.220.230.090.840.810.59
      bAmorpha fruticosa0.250.260.220.2600.820.740.57
      cArundo donax0.240.250.170.250.090.930.840.6
      dBoehmeria clidemioides0.220.220.150.220.190.920.850.48
      eBoehmeria nivea0.20.220.210.220.160.920.890.53
      fBroussonetia papyrifera0.230.240.10.240.190.920.820.56
      gCastanea mollissima0.210.210.20.210.160.880.830.65
      hCyclobalanopsis glauca0.20.210.20.210.180.920.860.51
      iDebregeasia orientalis0.190.210.210.210.180.950.940.46
      jElaeagnus angustifolia0.210.220.150.230.180.890.850.61
      kFicus heteromorpha0.210.210.210.210.160.910.810.55
      lLeucaena leucocephala0.240.250.170.260.080.940.930.68
      mMachilus gamblei0.210.240.230.230.080.970.970.75
      nMorus alba0.250.250.250.2400.840.850.64
      oPopulus adenopoda0.290.290.050.290.090.890.90.54
      pPopulus davidiana0.220.220.210.230.120.850.890.44
      qPopulus tomentosa0.210.240.210.260.090.890.810.6
      rSalix babylonica0.180.260.240.270.060.830.740.55
      sSaurauia thyrsiflora0.190.210.20.210.180.980.970.76
      tUlmus pumila0.220.220.20.220.130.840.860.51
      NB: sub-model with ‘0’ indicate that particular sub-model was calibrated but not used in the ensemble model.

      Table 2. 

      Final weights of each sub-models for ensemble forecasting, AUC, kappa and threshold for ensemble models

    • AbsoluteOptimum
      CropTmaxTminPmaxPminTmaxTminPmaxPmin
      Oryza sativaRice36104 0001 00030202 0001 500
      Sorghum bicolorSorghum4083 00030035271 000500
      Zea maysMaize47101 80040033181 200600
      Hordeum vulgareBarley4022 00020020151 000500
      Pennisetum glaucumPearl millet40121 7002003525900400
      Setaria italicaFoxtail millet3554 0003002616700500
      Glycine maxSoybean38101 80045033201 500600
      Triticum aestivumWheat2751 6003002315900750
      Tmax − Maximum temperature, Tmin − Minimum temperature in °C; Pmax − Maximum precipitation, Pmin − Minimum precipitation in mm

      Table 3. 

      Optimum and absolute range of temperature and precipitation for selected crops.