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Trade-Off between Energy Wood and Grain Production in Temperate Alley-Cropping Systems: An Empirical and Simulation-Based Derivation of Land Equivalent Ratio

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  • Diana-Maria Seserman

    (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Soil Protection and Recultivation, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany)

  • Dirk Freese

    (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Soil Protection and Recultivation, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany)

  • Anita Swieter

    (Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Bundesallee 58, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Maren Langhof

    (Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Bundesallee 58, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Maik Veste

    (CEBra—Centre for Energy Technology Brandenburg e.V., Friedlieb-Runge-Strasse 3, 03046 Cottbus, Germany)

Abstract

The alley-cropping systems (ACSs), which integrate parallel tree strips at varying distances on an agricultural field can result, complementarity of resource use, in an increased land-use efficiency. Practitioners’ concerns have been directed towards the productivity of such systems given a reduced area covered by agricultural crops. The land equivalent ratio (LER) serves as a valuable productivity indicator of yield performance and land-use efficiency in ACSs, as it compares the yields achieved in monocultures to those from ACSs. Consequently, the objective of this combined experimental and simulation study was to assess the tree- and crop-yields and to derive the LER and gross energy yield for two temperate ACSs in Germany under different design scenarios, i.e., tree arrangements (lee- or wind-ward) and ratios of tree area to crop area. Both LER and gross energy yields resulted in a convex curve where the maximum values were achieved when either the tree or crop component was dominant (>75% of the land area) and minimum when these components shared similar proportions of land area. The implications of several design scenarios have been discussed in order to improve the decision-making, optimization, and adaptation of the design of ACSs with respect to site-specific characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana-Maria Seserman & Dirk Freese & Anita Swieter & Maren Langhof & Maik Veste, 2019. "Trade-Off between Energy Wood and Grain Production in Temperate Alley-Cropping Systems: An Empirical and Simulation-Based Derivation of Land Equivalent Ratio," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:9:y:2019:i:7:p:147-:d:246595
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    1. Graves, A.R. & Burgess, P.J. & Palma, J. & Keesman, K.J. & van der Werf, W. & Dupraz, C. & van Keulen, H. & Herzog, F. & Mayus, M., 2010. "Implementation and calibration of the parameter-sparse Yield-SAFE model to predict production and land equivalent ratio in mixed tree and crop systems under two contrasting production situations in Eu," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(13), pages 1744-1756.
    2. Louis Verchot & Meine Noordwijk & Serigne Kandji & Tom Tomich & Chin Ong & Alain Albrecht & Jens Mackensen & Cynthia Bantilan & K. Anupama & Cheryl Palm, 2007. "Climate change: linking adaptation and mitigation through agroforestry," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 901-918, June.
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    2. Helena Žalac & Vladimir Zebec & Vladimir Ivezić & Goran Herman, 2022. "Land and Water Productivity in Intercropped Systems of Walnut—Buckwheat and Walnut–Barley: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Smith, Laurence G. & Westaway, Sally & Mullender, Samantha & Ghaley, Bhim Bahadur & Xu, Ying & Lehmann, Lisa Mølgaard & Pisanelli, Andrea & Russo, Giuseppe & Borek, Robert & Wawer, Rafał & Borzęcka, M, 2022. "Assessing the multidimensional elements of sustainability in European agroforestry systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).

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