Agroforestry can support cleaner water, but poor design carries risks

A systematic review of 110 records concludes that well-designed agroforestry systems can help protect water quality, conserve water and support sustainable agriculture, but the benefits depend on appropriate species selection, vegetation structure, management and local environmental conditions. The review assessed evidence on the contribution of integrated tree–crop and tree–livestock systems to Sustainable Development Goal 6, which concerns the availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation.

Agroforestry deliberately combines trees with crops and/or livestock. The review reports that these systems can act as buffers against runoff and soil erosion, potentially limiting sedimentation and pollution entering nearby water bodies. Diverse practices and vegetation structures may also reduce chemical discharge and nutrient leaching. These are potential water-quality benefits rather than a universal outcome, and the review emphasizes that systems must be suitably designed and managed to deliver them.

The analysis also identifies possible water-conservation gains. Synergistic interactions between appropriately chosen tree and crop species may improve water-use efficiency, reduce irrigation requirements and promote groundwater recharge under suitable environmental conditions. Together with their capacity to buffer runoff and erosion, these mechanisms position agroforestry as a land-management approach that could support both clean-water goals and more resilient agriculture. The strength and transferability of the effects, however, would depend on climate, soils, species, crop choices and management practices.

Poorly implemented agroforestry can produce trade-offs. Dense tree cover may increase competition for water and reduce crop or pasture yields, while unsuitable combinations of species can limit productivity. Where livestock are integrated, inadequate management may also create risks of water contamination. The central finding is therefore conditional: agroforestry has potential to advance water management, but planting trees alone does not guarantee better water outcomes or lower agricultural demands.

Reported following PRISMA 2020 guidance, the review synthesizes records identified through Scopus and Web of Science and evaluates agroforestry as a water-management strategy, including its contribution to SDG 6, conditions associated with trade-offs or failure, and barriers to adoption. The authors identify policy constraints, technical skill gaps and land-tenure concerns as obstacles to wider use. They also point to legislative backing, capacity training and financial incentives as measures that could help overcome these barriers, supporting further consideration of agroforestry in efforts to improve water management and agricultural resilience.

Subject of Research: Systematic review of agroforestry practices for water management and Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Article Title: A systematic review of agroforestry practices for achieving the clean water sustainable development goal

Article References: Rachana, P. M., Murthy M, S., Kumaran, K., & Parthiban, K. T. (2026). A systematic review of agroforestry practices for achieving the clean water sustainable development goal. Discover Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-05008-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-05008-5

Keywords: agroforestry, clean water, SDG 6, water quality, soil erosion, runoff, nutrient leaching, irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, systematic review, systematic, review