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Journal of
Arid
Environments
Journal of Arid Environments 62 (2005) 491–506
www.elsevier.com/locate/jnlabr/yjare
Structure and floristics of homegardens in
Northeastern Brazil
U.P. Albuquerquea,, L.H.C. Andradeb, J. Caballeroc
a
Laboratório de Etnobotânica Aplicada (LEA), Departamento de Biologia, Área de Botânica, Universidade
Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
b
Laboratório de Etnobotânica e Botânica Aplicada (LEBA), Departamento de Botânica-CCB, Universidade
Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
c
Laboratorio de Etnobotánica, Jardı´n Botánico, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Mexico
Received 29 June 2004; received in revised form 7 January 2005; accepted 12 January 2005
Available online 7 March 2005
Abstract
Despite their importance, homegardens in Northeast Brazil have not been systematically
studied. A study of 31 homegardens in a dry forest region in the municipality of Alagoinha,
Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, is described here. Species composition and structure as well
as plant uses, diversity, and variability are discussed. All together, 54 woody species were
found to be used for numerous purposes, especially as food sources. Prosopis julifora is the
principal tree species in local homegardens. This species is thoroughly disseminated
throughout Brazilian Northeast, and constitutes the majority of the total population of
homegarden trees in the region. It was observed that the size of the homegardens varied
greatly, but was related only to the number of individual plants present, not species richness.
The floristic structure of homegardens is also very variable, but there is a core group of very
frequent species, with significant representation of the local flora. This suggests that the
homegardens may contribute to the conservation of native species.
r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Dry forest; Caatinga; Ethnobotany; Agroforest systems; Land-use systems
Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 81 3302 1350; fax: +55 81 3302 1360.
E-mail address: [email protected] (U.P. Albuquerque).
0140-1963/$ - see front matter r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.01.003
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1. Introduction
Agroforest systems are land-use systems that combine the cultivation of trees and
the husbandry of farm animals on the same land area (Fernandes and Nair, 1986).
Agroforest systems are viewed as an alternative to the ever increasing demand for
food (Soewarwoto et al., 1985), and a pragmatic solution that associates scientific as
well as traditional techniques to diversify production. For Nair (1991), the agroforest
concept implies that these systems: (1) involve two or more species of plants (or
animals and plants); (2) always have two or more outputs; (3) have cycles longer than
one year; and (4) are ecologically more complex than monocultures. In addition to
these general characteristics, Alcorn (1990) includes seven more traits of indigenous
(or traditional) agroforest systems: (1) integration of species from the native
vegetation; (2) the farmers take advantage of the natural environmental variations
present; (3) processes of natural succession are used as management tools; (4) these
systems include a large number of species; (5) integration of agroforest areas into a
diversified farm; (6) variety is seen among farmers using the same system; and (7)
each farm is designed to satisfy the necessities of a family, independent of land-use
patterns of the local community.
Numerous investigations have examined agroforestry systems in tropical areas,
particularly focusing on homegardens. These have received considerable attention as
potential models for ecologically sustainable systems (Padoch and De Jong, 1991;
Lamont et al., 1999). Despite their importance, homegardens have not been
extensively studied in Brazil. Most previous studies were carried in humid forest
regions, such as the state of Amazonas, and dry forests may be considered the
orphans of the Brazilian eco-regions. Most studies of Brazilian homegardens present
qualitative descriptions of their structure, composition, organization, and management (Anderson et al., 1985; Emperaire and Pinton, 1986; Guillaumet et al., 1990;
Saragoussi et al., 1990; Bahri, 1992, 1993a, b, 1996). There is little quantitative data
available, nor detailed descriptions of their structure or management.
Recent studies have highlighted the social and economical aspects of homegardens, their structure and floristic composition, as well as their nutritional
importance (Mergen, 1987; Caron, 1995; Rugalema et al., 1994a, b; Roces et al.,
1989). Although researchers have looked for patterns, the general conclusion has
been that homegarden structures vary greatly, without identifiable patterns
(Barrera, 1980; Vara, 1980; Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Caballero, 1992, 1994).
Nonetheless, studies employing numerical techniques (Caballero, 1992; Castro,
1994; Millat-e-Mustafa et al., 1996) suggest that patterns can be recognized in some
situations, and that floristic variations observed in different studies cannot be
entirely idiosyncratic.
Despite their multitude human uses, ecological functions, and socio-economic
importance, much of the literature on tropical homegardens is deficient in precise
data concerning their floristic diversity and variation. Studies concerning agroforest
systems in northeastern Brazil that still employ traditional technologies are
practically non-existent, as is basic information about their organization and
structure. This situation does not apply to the northern regions of the country,
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however, where studies in this area are well advanced. The present study, part of a
wider project on ethnobotany in the Caatinga biome (Albuquerque and Andrade,
2002a, b; Almeida and Albuquerque, 2002; Albuquerque et al., 2005), is designed to
contribute to our knowledge about the structure and floristics of homegardens
located in the dryland vegetation of northeastern Brazil.
As such, the present study is designed to address some of the questions that have
arisen in the recent literature on this subject: (1) is there a direct relationship between
the size of a homegarden and its species richness? Normally, larger gardens are richer
in species (Lamont et al., 1999), although there is data that contradicts this general
pattern (Kuma et al., 1994). (2) Are homegardens in a given region floristically
homogeneous? Species composition may be influenced by various factors, and there
may be patterns of floristic variations associated with particular uses and functions
(Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Caballero, 1992). (3) Is the floristic composition of these
gardens influenced by the surrounding vegetation matrix? In this case, we would
expect to find a significant proportion of native plants among those selected by the
farmers.
2. Methods
2.1. Study site
This study was carried out in the municipality of Alagoinha, sub-zone of the
‘‘agreste’’ (backlands) of Pernambuco (081270 5900 S and 361460 3300 W), which is located
225 km from Recife (Fidem, 2001) (Fig. 1). The climate is semi-arid (BSHs,
according to the classification of Köppen), with an average annual temperature of
25 1C. The average annual rainfall is 599 mm, irregularly distributed throughout the
year (Fidem, 2001). The rainy season is normally from May to August. The natural
vegetation is dry tropical forest, arboreal hyperxerophile Caatinga, which is
characterized by the presence of xerophytic and deciduous species, with a
predominance of the families Cactaceae and Bromeliaceae. Some species will retain
their leaves during the dry season, such as ‘‘juá’’ (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.), or are
partially deciduous, such as ‘‘umbu’’ (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Câm.). The herbaceous
stratum is ephemeral, emerging vigorously during the rainy season.
The local economy in the study area is based mainly on agriculture and commerce.
Agriculture includes mainly beans, cassava, corn, tomatoes, and guava. The rural
community of Alagoinhas comprises about 5793 of the 12,522 inhabitants of the
municipality (Fidem, 2001). The community is principally composed of family units,
and is based on a subsistence economy, cultivating crops such as cassava, corn,
guava, and sweetsop, as well as husbandry of cattle and/or goats. Surpluses are sold
at local markets, or in neighbouring towns. Large areas of vegetation have been
converted to pasture or cut for timber or charcoal. The smaller properties in the rural
zone are physically and structurally very similar to each other, and the great majority
of them cultivate Opuntia spp. for use as fodder. Many people in the rural
communities work as employees on large properties, and maintain a system of
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Fig. 1. Geographical localization of the study site in municipality of Alagoinha, Pernambuco, Northeast
Brazil. Source: Albuquerque and Andrade (2002b).
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natural resources management characterized basically by direct exploitation
especially of native fruit trees.
2.2. Floristic and ethnobotany
Fieldwork was conducted during 1998 and 1999, in the ‘‘Laje do carrapicho’’
community, located approximately 10 km from the center of the municipality of
Alagoinha. A total of 31 homegardens were surveyed (essentially all of the
functioning gardens identified during the field work) and household members were
interviewed to explain the uses of all species. Only people directly responsible for
each of the gardens were interviewed, for a total of 31 individuals (13 women and 18
men) between 25 and 70 years old. All of these people had lived in the area for at
least 5 years. The interviews included questions on socio-economic themes, and the
use of natural resources. The informants, each in their own garden, explained the use
of each plant, and all uses cited for each of the species by each informant were
confirmed through repetitive questioning.
All plants (except herbs) in each homegarden were recorded. Tree height, diameter
at soil level, and the number of individuals of each species were noted in order to
calculate phytosociological parameters (Rodal et al., 1992). Relative abundance
corresponds to the total number of individuals of a given species divided by the total
number of individuals of all species encountered in the garden. Relative dominance
expresses the relation between the basal area (based in the diameter of trees at the
basis) of a given species divided by the total dominance.
The structure of the gardens was based on two components (Millat-e-Mustafa,
1998): the horizontal and the vertical arrangement of the species. The horizontal
structure was determined by the localization of each species within the garden, using
the farmer’s house as the reference point.
Plants specimens that could not be identified in the field were later identified and
deposited in the UFP herbarium (Department of Botany, Federal University of
Pernambuco, Brazil). Plants were identified by comparison with herbarium specimens
and, in some cases, with the assistance of specialists at the IPA herbarium (Brazil).
2.3. Data analysis
Multivariate analysis was used to determine variation patterns in homegardens.
Floristic data (presence/absence, abundance and dominance) was used to classify
homegardens by both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Each garden was
considered an operational taxonomic unit (OTU). A presence/absence matrix was used
to derive a similarity matrix based on the Jaccard coefficient (Sneath and Sokal, 1973).
Data on abundance and dominance were used to calculate the variance–covariance
matrixes (Sneath and Sokal, 1973). Principal coordinate analysis and principal
component analysis were carried out using NTSYS-pc version 1.8 software (Rohlf, 1993).
In order to determine if there was a relation between richness, number of
individuals, and the garden size, a linear correlation analysis was performed based
on Pearson’s correlation coefficient (Sokal and Rohlf, 1995). Comparisons were
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made between the proportions of native and non-native plants using the G-test
(Sokal and Rohlf, 1995). These statistical analyses were performed using the Systat
5.0 software package.
3. Results
3.1. Homegarden structure
The homegardens studied represented complex structures with a generally multilayered configuration, and included some species native to the Caatinga vegetation
(Fig. 2). The garden areas varied in shape and size, but were most commonly
rectangular, and occupied an area between 100 and 3000 m2 (mean of 496 m2,
standard deviation of 754 m2).
Their vertical structure reflects their degree of specialization and complexity
(Fig. 2A and B). The lower stratum (1–3 m) consists mainly of medicinal and fruit
trees, such as Psidium guajava, Annona squamosa, Jatropha molissima, as well as
saplings of forage species (e.g. Prosopis julifora and Capparis flexuosa). The midstratum (3–7 m) is formed by combination of species with multiple uses. The upper
stratum is generally formed by trees of approximately 7–12 m tall, such as P. julifora,
Schinopsis brasiliensis, Anacardium occidentale, Erythrina velutina, and Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil.
The species grown in the homegardens are distributed within the horizontal space
available. Farmers either plant or maintain previously established species, especially
fruit trees, such as P. guajava and A. squamosa. Almost all plants used for forage or
medicine (1–3 m) are found within the borders of the homegardens (e.g. P. julifora).
Native species, including emergent trees, are usually conserved within homegardens,
such as E. velutina and A. colubrina var. cebil. Ornamental species, such as
Bougainvillea glabra and Delonix regia, are often arranged in courtyard or adjacent
spaces. Timber trees are maintained to provide shade but they are rarely cut, as
many of these species have medicinal properties. The structural arrangement seems
to vary with garden size. The correlations between garden area and number of
individuals (r ¼ 0:49; po0:05) was significant, in spite of the low value of the
resulting coefficient. The correlation between garden area and number of species
(r ¼ 0:31; p40:05) was not significant.
3.2. Floristic composition
Thirty-one homegardens were studied, and a total of 54 woody species distributed
among 46 genera and 23 families were encountered. The species found and their
corresponding parameters are listed in Table 1. P. julifora, A. squamosa, and
P. guajava were the frequent species in homegardens. The latter two species provide
edible fruits that can be marketed locally. The most frequent species were
A. squamosa, P. guajava, A. occidentale, S. tuberosa, B. glabra, Z. joazeiro,
and E. velutina. At the family level, Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, Annonaceae,
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Fig. 2. Profile diagrams of traditional homegardens in Alagoinha, Pernambuco. A ¼ homegardens with
dominance of exotic and fruit trees; B ¼ homegardens dominated by native species. 1 ¼ Prosopis julifora
DC.; 2 ¼ Jatropha molissima (Pohl) Baill.; 3 ¼ Annona squamosa L.; 4 ¼ Anacardium occidentale L.;
5 ¼ Tabebuia sp.; 6 ¼ Psidium guajava L.; 7 ¼ Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All.; 8 ¼ Carica
papaya L.; 9 ¼ Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.; 10 ¼ Erythrina velutina Willd.
Anacardiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, and Euphorbiaceae demonstrated the highest
floristic importance in homegardens.
Across all sites, the garden plant community was formed basically by the eight
species listed above, among the total of 390 specimens encountered. A. squamosa had
the largest total number of individuals (70), occurring at 16 sites. P. juliflora was the
second most abundant species (65 individuals), while P. guajava was represented by
35 individuals at a total of 11 sites. Most of the species (19) were the rarest, such as
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Table 1
List of plant species found in the homegardens studied in Municipality of Alagoinha, Pernambuco,
Northeast of Brazil
Species
Frequency in all
homegardens (%)
Uses
Status
21(5.38%)
3 (0.76%)
5 (1.28%)
3 (0.76%)
1 (0.25%)
8 (2.05%)
32.25
9.67
16.12
6.15
3.22
25.80
n,m
n
m,t
m,t
n
n
N
E
N
N
E
N
1 (0.25%)
70 (17.94%)
3.22
51.60
n
n
E
E
Apocynaceae
Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart.
1 (0.25%)
3.22
t
N
Arecaceae
Bactris sp.
Cocos nucifera L.
1 (0.25%)
1 (0.25%)
3.22
3.22
sh
n,sh
E
E
Bignoniaceae
Tabebuia sp.
Tecoma stans Fuss.
5 (1.28%)
1 (0.25%)
6.45
3.22
t
o
N
E
Bombacaceae
Chorisia glaziovii (O. Kuntze) E.M. Santos
1 (0.25%)
3.22
o,sh
N
7
1
5
1
2
(1.79%)
(0.25%)
(1.28%)
(0.25%)
(0.51%)
3.22
3.22
9.67
3.22
6.45
n,m,t
o,ma
m,t
o,sh
m
N
E
N
E
N
3 (0.76%)
9.67
m,o
N
Capparaceae
Capparis flexuosa L.
Crataeva tapia L.
2 (0.51%)
4 (1.02%)
3.22
9.67
m,p
n
N
N
Caricaceae
Carica papaya L.
4 (1.02%)
9.67
n
E
m
o,ma
m
p
p
N
E
N
N
N
Anacardiaceae
Anacardium occidentale L.
Mangifera indica L.
Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All.
Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.
Spondias purpurea L.
Spondias tuberosa Arr. Câm.
Annonaceae
Annona muricata L.
Annona squamosa L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Steud.
Caesalpinia echinata Lam.
Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul.
Delonix regia (Boj. ex Hook) Raf.
Senna martiana (Benth.) H.S. Irwin &
Barneby
Senna spectabilis (H.S. Irwin & Barneby)
var. excelsa (Schrader) H.S. Irwin &
Barneby
Euphorbiaceae
Jatropha curcas L.
Jatropha gossypiifolia L.
Jatropha molissima (Pohl) Baill.
Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg.
Sapium sp.
No. Individuals*
4
3
31
3
1
(1.02%)
(0.76%)
(7.94%)
(0.76%)
(0.25%)
6.45
6.45
16.12
9.67
3.22
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Table 1 (continued )
Species
No. Individuals*
Frequency in all
homegardens (%)
Uses
Status
Fabaceae
Amburana cearensis (Arr. Câm.) A.C.
Smith.
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.
Canavalia sp.
Erythrina velutina Willd.
5 (1.28%)
16.12
m,t
N
1 (0.25%)
8 (2.05%)
8 (2.05%)
3.22
6.45
22.58
n
sh
m
E
N
N
Malpighiaceae
Malpighia glabra L.
1 (0.25%)
3.22
n
E
Malvaceae
Gossypium herbaceum L.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
1 (0.25%)
1 (0.25%)
3.22
3.22
m
o
E
E
8 (2.05%)
8 (2.05%)
9.67
19.35
t
m,t,p
N
N
6.45
19.35
6.45
61.29
p,sh
m,t
m,t
n,t,p
E
N
N
E
Mimosaceae
Acacia sp.
Anadenanthera colubrina (Benth.) Brenan
var. cebil (Grish.) Altschal.
Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) DC Witim
Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.
Piptadenia stipulacea Ducke
Prosopis julifora DC.
Moraceae (no identified)
5
11
2
65
(1.28%)
(2.82%)
(0.51%)
(16.66%)
1 (0.25%)
3.22
sh
Myrtaceae
Eucalyptus sp.
Eugenia sp.
Myrciaria caulifora Berg.
Psidium guajava L.
2
1
3
35
(0.51%)
(0.25%)
(0.76%)
(8.97%)
3.22
3.22
3.22
35.48
m
n
n
n,m
E
E
E
E
Nyctaginaceae
Bougainvillea glabra Choisy
14 (3.58%)
25.80
o
E
Oleaceae
Jasminum sp.
3 (0.76%)
6.45
o
E
Polygonaceae
Ruprechtia laxiflora Meissn.
1 (0.25%)
3.22
t
N
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.
7 (1.79%)
22.58
n,m
N
Rutaceae
Citrus sp.
Citrus aurantium L.
Citrus nobilis Lour.
1 (0.25%)
2 (0.51%)
1 (0.25%)
3.22
3.22
3.22
n
n,m
n
E
E
E
Sapindaceae
Sapindus saponaria L.
Talisia esculenta (St. Hil.) Radlk.
2 (0.51%)
2 (0.51%)
6.45
6.45
m,s
n
N
E
Conventions: n, nutrition; m, medicinal; t, timber, s, soap substitute, f, forage, p, poison, o, ornamentation,
sh, shade, mg, magic; N, native of caatinga; E, non-native.
*The values in parenthesis is the percentage of all individuals.
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Ruprechtia laxiflora and Aspidosperma pyrifolium, native species to the Caatinga
vegetation. Most ornamentals species were present at very low abundances (Table 1),
and only Sapindus saponaria, Talisia esculenta, Jasminum sp., Piptadenia stipulacea,
Leucaena leucocephala, Senna martiana, Tabebuia sp., S. brasiliensis, Jatropha curcas,
and Canavalia sp., were present in two or more homegardens. B. glabra, however,
was encountered in 8 homegardens.
It is possible to divide homegarden species into three categories, according to their
abundance and frequency: (1) the most important species, producing edible fruits,
forage, medicinal products, or that serve as ornamental plants (e.g. P. julifora, A.
squamosa, P. guajava, A. occidentale, S. tuberosa, B. glabra, Z. joazeiro, and E.
velutina); (2) species used basically for medicinal purposes or occasionally as timber
(e.g. Myracrodruon urundeuva, Amburana cearensis, Jatropha molissima, and Mimosa
tenuiflora); (3) species with both lower frequency and abundance, and of
miscellaneous uses.
The numbers of native and non-native plant species maintained in the
homegardens were precisely equal (27 each) (Table 1), although a significantly
higher absolute numbers of individuals of non-native species were cultivated
(G ¼ 5:36; po0:05).
3.3. Ethnobotany
All species encountered in the homegardens are considered useful for several
purposes. The households cited most species as useful for medicinal purposes (26%)
or food (26%), followed by timber (16%), ornamentation (12%), shade (8%), forage
(3%), poisons (3.75%), or soap substitutes and magic (1% each) (Fig. 3). The
differences observed between the principal use-categories in terms of the number of
species and the number of individual plants are significant (w2 ¼ 18:27; po0:001). As
such, the category of food plants is the most species rich, as well as the most
numerous, of all the other categories, except for medicinal plants (as usually the
plants considered as edible also are indicated for therapeutic use). Of the 54 utilized
plant species, 33 have only one indicated use, while 21 had more that one attributed
utility. Species with three uses were Bauhinia cheilantha, A. colubrina var. cebil, and
P. julifora.
3.4. Variation patterns of homegardens
A principal component analysis performed on a Jaccard similarity matrix based
only on the presence or absence of species does not clearly separate homegardens
into coherent groups. In contrast, the results of a principal component analysis of the
quantitative data (relative abundance) helps to explain the previous results and does
separate homegardens into identifiable groups (Fig. 4). Homegardens in group I can
be distinguished by the relatively high abundance of A.squamosa. The homegardens
of group II, which lie on the left side of the graph, retain a mixture of many different
species and are basically determined by the increasing abundance of P. juliflora, a
exotic species. On the other hand, the homegardens of group III are separated by the
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300
Number of species
Number of individuals
250
200
150
100
50
0
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
Categories of use
Fig. 3. Number of species and individuals by categories of use in traditional homegardens in Municipality
of Alagoinha, Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil. Conventions: a ¼ food, b ¼ medicinal, c ¼ timber,
d ¼ soap substitute, e ¼ forage, f ¼ poisonous, g ¼ ornamentation, h ¼ shade, i ¼ magic.
Fig. 4. Projection of the homegardens in the space of the two first principal components. Analysis
performed on variance-covariance dissimilarity matrix (relative abundance data).
high abundance of P. julifora. Homegardens of group IV form an intermediary group,
comprising a mixture of different species, but characterized by some key plants such as
A. squamosa, P. guajava, and A. colubrina var. cebil. The homegardens of the group V
are very heterogeneous, and determined by the lesser abundance or frequently the total
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Fig. 5. Projection of the homegardens in the space of the two first principal components. Analysis
performed on variance-covariance dissimilarity matrix (dominance data).
absence of above-cited species. A. squamosa and P. julifora are responsible by the
highest scores in the first and second principal component analyses, respectively, and
together are responsible for 42.5% of the variation encountered.
The principal component analysis performed on dominance data demonstrate
very interesting results (Fig. 5). The observed grouping tendencies are biological
consequences of the abundance decisions. Homegardens of group III are clearly
dominated by P. julifora. The cluster formed by the homegardens of group II is
determined by high dominance values of E. velutina. Other homegardens dominated
by A. squamosa and A. colubrina var. cebil tend to group together in the upper right
quadrant (Fig. 5). In general, the homegardens with more non-native plants are
grouped to the right of the graph. The groups on the left are the oldest, and they
seem to show smaller management degree. P. julifora and E. velutina have the
greatest weight in the first principal component. The second and third principal
components are defined basically by A. colubrina var. cebil and A. squamosa,
respectively. The first and second principal components together are responsible for
41.8% of the observed variation.
4. Discussion
According to Fernandes and Nair (1986) the species distribution in the
homegardens space is determined by environmental factors and dietary habits, as
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well as by socio-economic and market demands. Barrera (1980) reported similar
conditions in the arrangement of homegardens. In the homegardens in Alagoinha,
the horizontal ordering of plant species appears to be much more random, similar to
the situation observed by Rico-Gray et al. (1990). The vertical structure of many
homegardens described in the literature is often complex, but quite variable. The
arrangement and vertical structure of homegardens seems to be closely related to
their function, and homegardens dedicated to fruits trees generally show only the
two lowest strata. All native trees (e.g. S. brasiliensis, S. saponaria, and M.
urundeuva) were found in homegardens with structures very similar to those of
adjacent native vegetation. In most cases (as in the present study), homegardens
resemble the neighboring forest in physiognomic terms (Barrera, 1980). The
structural parameters of the Alagoinha homegardens examined here were very
similar to other homegardens previously documented in Brazil (Bahri, 1993b),
Mexico (e.g. Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Caballero, 1992), and Cuba (Wezel and Bender,
2003).
The mean size of the homegardens in Alagoinha was 496 m2, and according to
Fernandes and Nair (1986), homegardens smaller than one hectare are typical of
subsistence agriculture. Studies of homegardens in Mexico (Rico-Gray et al., 1990)
indicate that the number of species or individuals is not related to homegarden size.
However, it is important to emphasize that the difference between the results of other
studies (e.g. Millat-e-Mustafa et al., 1996) and those found here (showing a
important relationship between area and number of individuals) support the
argument that homegarden structure varies in different regions (Soewarwoto et al.,
1985). The lack of a unified methodology in such studies, however, makes precise
comparisons difficult.
In general, homegardens in Alagoinha are characterized by a high density of
certain species, especially fruit trees. The species composition of the homegardens
studied there conforms well with the general floristic profile reported for other
tropical homegardens, at both the family and genus levels. Several taxa were
frequently cited in previous reports, such as Citrus, Spondias, Annona, Psidium, and
other representatives of the families Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Leguminosae (e.g. Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Padoch and De Jong, 1991; Bahri, 1993b; Millate-Mustafa et al., 1996; Lamont et al., 1999). Some important species in the present
list, e.g. Mangifera indica, Spondias spp, A. squamosa, Carica papaya, Citrus spp., P.
guajava, and A. occidentale, have been reported in other tropical homegardens in
regions of both dry and wet forests (see, for example, Wezel and Bender, 2003).
P. julifora is the principal tree species in homegardens in Alagoinha, often
dominating and monopolizing the system. This species is thoroughly disseminated
throughout Brazilian Northeast, and constitutes the majority of the total population
of homegarden trees in the region. P. julifora is not usually referred in other surveys,
and perhaps its presence in these homegardens is due to the incentives given to its
cultivation as a fodder species in the Northeast of Brazil in the middle of the last
century. This tree became a important cultivated plant in semi-arid regions due to
the fact that its leaves remain green even during the very long dry season, and the
leaves, branches, and fruits are used as animal fodder (Rizzini and Mors, 1976).
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A large number of otherwise rare species are common in some tropical
homegardens (Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Caballero, 1992; Lamont et al., 1999). In
the present study, 25 species were identified as part of the caatinga flora. In this way,
the gardens in the region may contribute to the conservation of native plants, as
these household plots contained fully 40% of the woody species encountered in a
0.1 ha area of primary Caatinga vegetation (Albuquerque et al., 2005). Four genera
cited here were also mentioned as important components of homegardens in
Amazonian and the semi-arid region of Piauı́ (Northeastern Brazil): Spondias,
Jatropha, Erythrina, and Talisia (Anderson et al., 1985; Emperaire and Pinton, 1986;
Guillaumet et al., 1990; Bahri, 1993a, b). This suggests that although homegardens
will have species typical of the neighbouring vegetation, it will also share species
found in differing areas or differing forest types. These similarities, together with the
origin of these species, will need to be investigated in future studies.
Homegarden plants are used for food and fruit production as well as medicinal
products, similar to the observed in other studies (Rico-Gray et al., 1990; Padoch
and De Jong, 1991; Lamont et al., 1999). Wood for construction or fuel is only an
occasional use. Medicinal plants used by farmers are collected principally from the
surrounding natural vegetation or from homegardens. Natural resources in
homegardens also include many exotic plants, widely used by ethnic groups in
other regions of the Neotropics, such as Citrus spp., M. indica, Cocos nucifera, Musa
spp., and Tamarindus indica (Guillaumet et al., 1990; Caballero, 1992). Household
members use and depend on natural and anthropogenic vegetation in their
agricultural and agroforestry practices, as has been reported in other communities,
such as in Amazonia (Padoch and De Jong, 1991).
Millat-e-Mustafa et al. (1996), using multivariate methods with presence or
absence data, established the existence of different floristic patterns in homegardens
in Bangladesh. Based on relative abundance and dominance data for the species,
four groups of homegardens were recognized in the present work: 1. Generalized
homegardens; 2. Homegardens dominated by P. juliflora; 3. Homegardens
dominated by A. squamosa; 4. Homegardens dominated by native species such as
A. colubrina var. cebil or E. velutina, in association or not with fruit trees such as A.
squamosa and/or P. guajava. There may be variants among any of these types of
homegardens. Caballero (1992) also recognizes homegardens groups based on
floristic variations observed in the Maya region of the Yucatan Peninsula.
In conclusion, structural and functional variables observed in homegardens in the
Caatinga region are determined by a combination of factors, and this variation is not
entirely idiosyncratic. Families from the region have migrated to other localities,
resulting in an accentuated decline in local land-use and agroforestry practices.
Official data is not available, but field observations indicate that out-migration has
produced a notable decline in traditional cultural practices. Nonetheless, homegardens are still an important factor in keeping these people self-sufficient in terms of
food, in spite of the variability seen in the degree of production. The lack of scientific
knowledge concerning the correct use of natural resources, together with a general
lack of political interest, have been the main forces behind indiscriminate forest
clearing in the Caatinga region. The progressive destruction of these forests leads to
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significant increases in soil erosion and a reduction in both biological and cultural
diversity. Thus, homegardens, with their significant component of native plants, may
contribute to the sustainable use of the natural resources of the Caatinga, by
reducing pressure on the native vegetation
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the rural community of the municipality of Alagoinha for
their hospitality and receptivity during our fieldwork, and for the rich moments of
apprenticeship we shared. Thanks also to the WWF and USAID for their financial
support, to CAPES (Coordenac- ão de Aperfeic- oamento de Pessoal de Nı́vel
Superior) for the fellowship granted to the first author, and to the biologists
Fernando Valenc- a, Ana Carolina Silva, Cecı́lia Almeida, Fernanda Melo, Kátia
Chisaki, and Mirtes Guedes, for their help during the field work. To the two
anonymous reviewers for the important suggestions.
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