An Agroforestry Practice - PowerPoint Presentation

1. An Agroforestry PracticeAlley CroppingThis presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center

2. Presentation ObjectivesDefine alley croppingDescribe the benefitsExplain the basic design considerationsIdentify potential crops and speciesAlley Cropping2

3. What is Agroforestry?…the intentional combining of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming systems.Alley CroppingSilvopastureAlley croppingWindbreaksForest farmingRiparian buffer3

4. What is Alley Cropping? … the planting of trees or shrubs in two or more sets of single or multiple rows with agronomic, horticultural, or forage crops cultivated in the alleys between the rows of woody plants.Alley CroppingPoplar and wheat4

5. Alley Cropping is not…..Alley CroppingCorn with two pecans5

6. Why use Alley Cropping?Alley CroppingImproves crop or forage quality and quantity by enhancing microclimateImproves crop diversity, and economic returnsIncreases net carbon storage in the soil and vegetationImproves utilization and recycling of soil nutrientsDecreases off site movement of nutrients or chemicalsProvides or enhances wildlife habitat6

7. BenefitsAlley CroppingImproves crop or forage quality and quantity by enhancing microclimateImproves the microenvironment to increase crop yieldsProtects alleyway crops from physical damage from winds or from soil particles blown into the plant tissue which bruises or degrades quality Black walnut with hay7

8. BenefitsAlley CroppingImprove Crop Diversity, and Economic ReturnsAllows production of annual crops for needed cash flow while at the same time growing longer term woody investments.Allows two annual crops to be grown on the same acreage such as a forage or row crop and nut or fruit cropsAllows crop diversity which reduces risk ElderberryTaro8

9. BenefitsAlley CroppingIncreases net carbon storage in the soil and vegetationRoots, crop residue, leaves and forage add to soil carbonTree component adds to total potential carbon stored on site through long term sequestration in the above ground and below ground biomass9

10. BenefitsAlley CroppingImproves utilization and recycling of soil nutrientsTree roots are generally deeper than crop rootsNutrients and chemicals that pass through crop root zone are intercepted by treesNutrients are utilized by the trees and recycled back to the soil surface by leaf drop10

11. BenefitsAlley CroppingDecreases off site movement of nutrients or chemicals - surfaceTrees planted on contour trap sediment and residue along with attached nutrients and chemicals Infiltration increases in tree rows decreasing overland flow and associated movement of soluble nutrients and chemicals off site11

12. BenefitsAlley CroppingDecreases off site movement of nutrients or chemicals - subsurfaceTree roots are generally deeper than crop rootsNutrients and chemicals that pass through crop root zone are intercepted by the woody plantsNutrients are utilized by the woody plants and recycled back to the soil surface12

13. BenefitsAlley CroppingProvides or enhances wildlife habitatProvides food and cover through a diversity of plantsCreates vertical habitat structureImproves pollinator foraging and nesting habitatBuilds travel corridors for wildlife movement to connect to other food, cover, or water resources13

14. Alley Cropping - IssuesInvolves intensive managementMay remove land from annual production, depending on the tree cropMay complicate herbicide applicationRequires marketing infrastructure for woody plant productsAlley CroppingCoffee under macadamia trees14

15. Design ConsiderationsAlley CroppingLight requirement for the crop or forage to be grown in the alley wayRoot Competition between cropsType and size of the equipment being usedTree SpeciesShade ProducedRoot CompetitionBlack walnutLowLowPecanMediumMediumOakHighMediumPineHighMedium-high15

16. Tree or Shrub Criteria for Alley CroppingAlley CroppingMarketableYields annual or periodic commercial product (wood, nuts or fruit)Appropriate shade for the alley cropMinimal roots at soil surfaceAdapted to site and soils Foliage residue does not interfere with alley crop Growth requirements complement alley crop16

17. Potential TreesAlley CroppingWalnutPecanChestnut PinePoplarTropical:CoffeeCoconut PalmLeucaena EucalyptusPapaya CoffeeLeucaenaWalnutPine17

18. Potential ShrubsAlley CroppingHazelnut/filbert, (nuts)Willow, dogwood (decorative florals)Chokecherry, highbush cranberry, currant, elderberry, saskatoon, gooseberry, sugar apple, pomegranate (fruits)HazelnutWillowSaskatoonPomegranateSugar apple18

19. Potential Alley Way CropsAlley CroppingRow/cereal crops (corn, soybeans, milo, wheat)Forage crops (legumes, grasses)Specialty crops (vegetables, fruits, flowers, medicinals)Biomass (energy, feedstock) Pecans and hayBiomass alley crop19

20. For Additional InformationAlley CroppingWhere is there more information on alley cropping?A number of web sites are available to provide more detailed information on alley cropping systems. Here are a few :USDA National Agroforestry Center https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/alleycropping.php The Center for Agroforestry http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/ac.phpAssociation for Temperate Agroforestry http://www.aftaweb.org/20

21. Summary – Alley CroppingAlley CroppingIncreased crop productionEnhanced economic diversificationImproved crop protectionBetter nutrient utilization Improved soil and water quality Pine and cottonLettuce intercrop followed with pumpkinsCoconuts and beans21

22. AcknowledgementsThis presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), Lincoln NE. NAC is a USDA partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service."The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."NationalAgroforestryCenterA partnership of:Alley Cropping22