A simple process-based model for estimating windbreak effects on soil temperature during early crop growth stage

Shelterbelt is an important measurement to protect farmland and increase crop yield. However, how shelterbelt structure affects crop yield is still unclear due to the difficulties to access sufficient data from traditional field observations. To address this problem, we developed an innovative framework to estimate shelterbelt structure and crop yield profile at a regional scale based on Google Earth and Sentinel-2 data. Using this method, we quantified the impact of shelterbelt structure on corn yield at 302 shelterbelts in the Northeast Plain of China. Generally, the corn yield increased (by 2.41% on average) within the distance of 1.2–15 times of tree height from shelterbelt. Such increase effect was particularly prominent within the distance of 2–5 times of tree height, the corn yield was significantly increased up to 4.63%. Shelterbelt structure has a significant effect on the magnitude of increase in yield of surrounding corn. The increment of corn yield with high-, medium-high, medium- and low-width-gap grade shelterbelt were 2.01%, 2.21%, 1.99%, and 0.91%, respectively. The medium-high grade shelterbelt achieved the largest yield increase effect. The location of farmland relative to shelterbelt also affected yield, with 2.39% on leeward side and 1.89% on windward side, but did not change the relationship between yield increase effect and shelterbelt structure. Our findings highlight the optimal shelterbelt structure for increasing corn yield, providing guidance to the design and management of farmland shelterbelts in practice for maximizing yield.

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A simple process-based model for estimating windbreak effects on soil temperature during early crop growth stage

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Tree shelterbelts for sustainable agroforestry

Tree shelterbelts for sustainable agroforestry

Modeling optimal windbreak design in maize fields in cool humid climates: Balancing between positive and negative effects on yield

Estimating the impact of shelterbelt structure on corn yield at a large scale using Google Earth and Sentinel 2 data

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