Q.Give four examples of plants cultivated in commercial agroforestry.

Agroforestry deliberately integrates trees, crops and livestock on one plot of land — for example, intercropping between rows of trees and shrubs — raising yield, cutting operating costs, stabilising soil salinity and water table, improving nutrient cycling, and moderating local microclimate (O2-CO2 balance, temperature, humidity); it suits dry land with minimal rainfall as an alternate land-use system. Commercial species in Tamil Nadu agroforestry include Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Malai Vembu, Teak and Kadambu. A related silvopasture system grows woody plants with pasture, using multipurpose 'Protein Bank' species (Acacia nilotica, Albizzia lebbek, Azadirachta indica, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania grandiflora) for fodder, and live fences of fodder trees/hedges to keep stray animals off farmland. Social (community) forestry inste …