Abstract
Ecologists are increasingly using multivariate analytical approaches to reveal relationships between communities. These methods have promise in other fields as well. The use of multivariate methods to delineate relationships and classify an agroforestry system was tested among fruit-based agroforestry gardens in northern Thailand. Data on crop species composition, species abundance, perennial-crop age groups, and other physical and ecological factors from 82 gardens in three villages in a Highland watershed in northern Thailand were used in this study. Using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis the gardens were divided into clusters, each representing a different garden type (or fruit-based agroforestry subsystem). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) analysis was used to assist in the interpretation of classification groupings and analysis gradients. The NMS analysis shows overall crop diversity, herbaceous food crops, size and market potential of the fruit planting as important classifying factors. However, this analysis did not produce as clear distinctions as hoped among gardens in a continuum of gradually changing and overlapping characteristics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
L. Christanty O.S. Abdoellah G.G. Marten J. Iskandar (1986) Traditional agroforestry in West-Java: the pekerangan (homegarden) and kebun-talan (annual-perennial rotation) cropping system G.G. Marten (Eds) Traditional Agriculture in Southeast Asia: a Human Ecology Perspective. East–West Environment and Policy InstituteUniversity of HawaiiUSA Westview Press Boulder 358
T.C. Delobel G.R. Evers A.P. Maerere (1991) ArticleTitlePosition and functions of deciduous fruit trees in the farming systems at Upper MgetaUluguru Mountains, Tanzania Acta Hort. 270 91–102
Enters T. 1992. Land Degradation and Resource Conservation in the Highlands of Northern Thailand: The Limits to Economic Evaluations. Ph.D. Dissertation. The Australian National University, .
E.C. Fernandes A. Oktingati J. Maghembe (1984) ArticleTitleThe Chagga homegardens: a multi-storied agroforestry cropping system on Mt. Kilimanjaro (Northern Tanzania) Agrofor. Syst. 2 73–86
H.G. Gauch SuffixJr. (1982) Multivariate Analysis in Community Ecology Cambridge University Press CambridgeNew York 298
P. Gypmantasiri (1998) Multiple Cropping Centre.Personal communication. Faculty of Agriculture Chiang Mai University
C. Kanjunt (1998) Mae Taeng Watershed Management District.Personal communication. Royal Forest Department Chiang Mai
J.B. Kruskal (1964) ArticleTitleNonmetric multidimensional scaling: a numerical method Psychometrika 29 115–129
R. Lauriks R. De Wulf S.E. Carter A. Niang (1999) ArticleTitleA methodology for the description of border hedges and the analysis of variables influencing their distribution: a case study in western Kenya Agrofor. Syst. 44 69–86
P.M. Mather (1976) Computational Methods of the Multivariate Analysis in Physical Geography J. Wiley and Sons London; New York 532
McCune B. and Mefford M.J. 1999. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological DataVersion 4.02. MJM SoftwareGleneden BeachOregon, USA.
M.D. Millat-E-Mustafa J.B. Hall Z. Teklehaimanot (1996) ArticleTitleStructure and florisitcs of Bangladesh homegardens Agrofor. Syst. 33 263–280
G. Moreno-Black P. Somnasang S. Thamathawan (1996) ArticleTitleCultivating continuity and creating change: women’s home garden practices in northeastern Thailand Agric. Hum. Val. 13 IssueID3 3–11
C. Musvoto B.M. Campbell (1995) ArticleTitleMango trees as components of agroforestry systems in MangwendeZimbabwe Agrofor. Syst. 32 247–260
P.K.R. Nair (1985) ArticleTitleClassification of agroforestry systems Agrofor. Syst. 3 97–128 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00122638
M. Poffenberger B. McGean (Eds) (1993) Community Allies: Forest Co-Management in Thailand. Research Network Report Number 2, Center for Southeast Asia Studies University of California Berkeley, CaliforniaUSA 62
K. Rerkasem B. Rerkasem (1994) Shifting Cultivation in Thailand: its Current Situation and Dynamics in the Context of Highland Development IIED Forestry and Land Use Series No. 4. International Institute for Environment and Development London 139
V. Rico-Gray J.G. Garcia-Franco A. Chemas A. Puch P. Sima (1990) ArticleTitleSpecies composition, similarity and structure of Mayan homegardens in Tixpeual and TixcacaltuyubYucatan, Mexico Econ. Bot. 44 IssueID4 470–487
F.L. Sinclair (1999) ArticleTitleA general classification of agroforestry practice Agrofor. Syst. 46 IssueID2 161–180 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006278928088
K. Suryanata (1994) ArticleTitleFruit trees under contract: tenure and land use change in upland JavaIndonesia World Dev. 22 1567–1578 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0305-750X(94)90038-8
J.H. Ward (1963) ArticleTitleHierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 58 IssueID301 236–244
B. Withrow-Robinson D.E. Hibbs P. Gypmatasiri D. Thomas (1999) ArticleTitleA preliminary classification of fruit-based agroforestry in a highland area of northern Thailand Agrofor. Syst. 42 195–205
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Withrow-Robinson, B.A., Hibbs, D.E. Testing an ecologically based classification tool on fruit-based agroforestry in northern Thailand. Agroforest Syst 65, 123–135 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-004-6720-z
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-004-6720-z