Agroforestry systems with Ilex paraguariensis (American holly or yerba mate) and native timber trees on small farms in Misiones, Argentina

In Misiones, in the northeast of Argentina, agroforestry systems of timber trees and perennial cash crops are becoming increasingly common. We evaluat ed the productivity of Ilex paraguariensis St Hill (South American holly or yerba mate, Aquifoliaceae) in association with indigenous trees: Enterolob ium contortisiliquum (Vellozo) Morong. (timbo, Leguminosae, a N-2-fixing tr ee), and two timber species, Balfourodendron riedelianum (Engler) Engler (g uatambu, Rutaceae) and Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vellozo) Toledo (lapacho negro , Bignoniaceae). Five years after planting, the tree species were 2.7 to 5. 0 m high and 3 to 7 cm in diameter at breast height, and the yerba mate pro duced its first harvest. Additionally, the production of associated crops o f subsistence covered the annual needs of the farmer. These systems are pro mising for sustainable use of deforested lands in the region.