Trees planted at wide spacing naturally develop a shorter trunk, with a greater tendency to a sinuous and forked shape. They often bear many vigorous lateral branches that can hamper the movement of agricultural machinery.
Typical landscape of Montado with Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia)
SouthEast Portugal. by João Palma
Agroforestry with willow used as medicinal fodder
Shropshire, UK. Photo by Jo Smith, ORC
Silvoarable agroforestry experiment with poplar and barley
Bedfordshire in 2002, UK, by Paul Burgess.
Whitehall Farm, Cambs, UK, apples and arable
June 2011 by Organic Research Center.
Olive trees + grazing + traditional stone walls
Photo by João HN Palma
Agroforestry with chicken
Xeromero valonia oak forest/silvopastoral system (West Greece)
Photo: Anastasia Pantera
Authochtonous goat breed (Serpentina) grazing under Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia)
SouthEast Portugal. by João Palma
Darliner Farm
Italy
Wakelyns Agroforestry, Suffolk, UK
Photo by Permaculture Association
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Factsheets
- AGFORWARD
Successful tree establishment depends on minimising competition from other vegetation for water and nutrients. Mulching is one of the most beneficial practices a farmer can use to establish healthy tree plants.
- AGFORWARD
The effectiveness of a mesh tree guard in protecting individual trees from wildlife damage depends not only on careful selection of the device itself and the stakes supporting it, but also on the care taken during installation.
- AGFORWARD
Successfully planting a tree in agroforestry does not only mean buying good quality seedlings. Die off after planting is primarily attributable to inadequate management beforehand. Drying out of roots or exposure to excess sun, wind, or frost can substantially hamper the development of young trees.
- AGFORWARD
A comprehensive diagnosis of the land potential to bear trees (studying the soil, climate, topography, etc.) allow farmers to choose the appropriate species to plant. It also helps identify appropriate soil cultivation operations to be carried out before planting.
- AGFORWARD
Wildlife is integral to the life of fields. As they seek to satisfy their natural needs (food and reproduction), animals can cause damage to trees and shrubs.
- AGFORWARD
A lot of silvoarable systems exist, with a broad range of varying tree densities and tree spacings. Almost all combinations are viable if the appropriate tree species and the crops are selected to match the environmental conditions.
- AGFORWARD
The plant quality determines success in agroforestry establishment; particularly in relation to root development. Once the farmer has selected which tree species to use it is then important to select seedlings that are best suited to the farm conditions but also ensure that the seed stock is healthy (i.e. it comes without pests or diseases).
- AGFORWARD
Not every tree will be suitable for a given area of agricultural land. An important first step is to conduct a biophysical assessment to identify the potential suitability of a site for agroforestry.