Agroforestry
Agroforestry combines
agriculture and
forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. -National Agroforestry Center
The World Agroforestry Centre made this definition in 1993: "Agroforestry is a collective name for land use systems and practices in which woody
perennials are deliberately integrated with crops and/or animals on the same land management unit. The integration can be either in a spatial mixture or in a temporal sequence.
Encyclopedia
Agroforestry combines
agriculture and
forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. -National Agroforestry Center
The World Agroforestry Centre made this definition in 1993: "Agroforestry is a collective name for land use systems and practices in which woody
perennials are deliberately integrated with crops and/or animals on the same land management unit. The integration can be either in a spatial mixture or in a temporal sequence. There are normally both
ecological and
economic interactions between woody and non-woody components in agroforestry". It means that trees are intentionally used within agricultural systems. Knowledge, careful selection of species and good management of trees and crops are needed to maximize the production and positive effects of trees and to minimise negative competitive effects on crops.
Alley cropping
Alley cropping or
Intercropping is a strategy used by
farmers to combat
soil erosion. In this method, several
crops are planted together in strips or alleys between
trees and
shrubs. This design provides shade , ensures retention of
soil moisture, and can also produce
fruit, fuelwood, or trimmings to be made into
mulch.
Energy and Ethanol Production
The state of New York is researching extracting Hemicellulose from northern hardwood chips to make 5 carbon sugars and then ferment those into
ethanol. They argue that the energy balance versus corn for ethanol production is much better. They estimate the energy balance of corn is 1.6 - 1.67 units of energy out for every unit of energy in, whereas nothern hardwoods will give 14 - 18 units of energy out for 1 unit of energy in. They propose using
willow trees. They estimate 1.2 million acres of land in New York is useful for this purpose. A 6 inch sprig can grow to 30 feet tall and 2.5" - 3" in diameter in 3 years, and they plan to establish a 3 year harvest cycle. They hope to have this "in play" in 2-3 years. This is called the Salix project or the Willow Biomass Project.
The State of
Michigan has a biomass energy program.
See also
References
- The Springer Journal, "Agroforesty Systems"
External links
