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An improved fallow agroforestry practice, that involves planting Acacia auriculiformis trees to accelerate soil fertility recovery, was taught to 306 farmers in Mampu agroforestry zone on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 1995 to 2001. Our study (1) assessed the principal factors that determined the continued application of this practice by farmers; and (2) identified the benefits and constraints perceived by those farmers who adopted the practice two decades ago. We applied a mixed approach that combined quantitative as well as qualitative evaluation. First, a multiple linear regression model was constructed based on a survey of 121 farmers that adopted the new practice. We subsequently conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 adopters. The regression models identified that the availability of labour, based on the number of household members working in the fields, best explained the continued use of the improved fallow practice (P = 0.0898). In the interviews, revenue from the sale of charcoal and improvement in crop yields were cited as key benefits of improved fallow, while the lack of nurseries for tree production and the problems of access to water were the main drawbacks mentioned by adopters. The study results identify the principal factors influencing the adoption of this practice, as well as the perception of farmers; this information can be used to guide the dissemination of improved fallow practice to other communities on the Batéké Plateau landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry intercropping systems have been developed as an alternative to conventional monocropping systems to address environmental, social and economic issues in a wide array of agricultural contexts. As research on the biological properties of these systems tends to demonstrate their potential, fostering their integration in agricultural landscapes requires an in-depth understanding of local stakeholders' perceptions. Our study used the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats approach in combination with the analytical hierarchy process (SWOT-AHP) to investigate the factors influencing local stakeholders' decision to integrate agroforestry intercropping systems in two Regional County Municipalities and their perception of the relative suitability of three agroforestry intercropping system designs (crop-oriented, tree-oriented and landscape aesthetic-oriented). We conducted focus groups with farmers, farm and forestry advisors, urban planners and local authorities in a very intensive and a very extensive agricultural landscape in Quebec (Canada) and compared the results between stakeholders within and across the areas. Our results show that social factors seem to have more impact than biophysical factors on the decision to integrate agroforestry intercropping systems in intensive and extensive agricultural landscapes. The relative value given to the decision factors varies greatly across stakeholders' categories and areas. Agroforestry intercropping systems designed to meet crop production needs or landscape aesthetic purposes are perceived as more suitable in both agricultural contexts than the tree-oriented design. Our results highlight crucial issues for agroforestry intercropping system deployment and the development of relevant agroforestry system designs through collective decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]