Agroforestry: How to Balance Ecological Sustainability and Economic Benefits

Cutting down once-thriving forests for agricultural development destroys the natural ecosystems of the forests. That had led to the loss of biodiversity and weakened ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Depletion of soil nutrients through monoculture and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers have harmed the environment and species. As time goes on, a new food web is formed as agriculture grows, which includes species that help control pests and pollinate crops, such as birds, bats, and insects. For sustainable agriculture, the aim is to restore balance by promoting soil health, biodiversity and natural processes. For the purpose of this study, a food web was created based on the Lotka-Volterra equation. Then, a logistic growth model was integrated to create a function that captures the effects of cyclical changes over time. Next, we explored the potential immigration or re-emergence of various species. In addition, a profit maximization model was refined to determine the most efficient fertilization strategy. Finally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of different parameters on model stability and accuracy.