The Effect of Tree Spacing on Yields of Alley Cropping Systems—A Case Study from Hungary

Abstract

Alley cropping is a specific agroforestry system, which is regarded as sustainable land use management, that could play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Despite its appealing attributes, farmers’ up-take of the system is slow in temperate regions. This study aims to contribute to scaling-up agroforestry through a case study in Hungary and to help to design productive alley cropping systems. We investigated which tree planting pattern of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) results in the most productive alley cropping system when intercropped with triticale (x Triticosecale W.) by statistically analysing the yields of the intercrop and of the trees in nine different layouts and by calculating land equivalent ratios (LER). There was significant difference between the treatments both in triticale and black locust yields. The more trees planted on a hectare, the higher the volume of the stand, and the less yield of triticale was observed, although the latter correlation was weak and in some cases the triticale was more productive between the trees compared with sole crop control. Eight out of nine treatments had favourable LER (0.94–1.35) when the trees were five years old. Black locust and triticale seem to be a good combination for productive alley cropping systems.

Biomass production, carbon stock and sequestration potential of prominent agroforestry systems in north-western Himalaya, India

“…The reduction was 10-60% for the kharif season and 7.2-29.5% for rabi crops from the 2nd year to 8 years after planting, respectively. Similarly, Honfy et al, 2023 investigated the tree planting pattern of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) when intercropped with triticale (x Triticosecale W.) and observed that more the trees planted on a hectare, the higher the volume of the stand, and the less yield of triticale. Studies carried out by various researchers observed that a significant yield reduction of more than 70% was observed near the tree base (0-3 m) and about a 10-35% reduction up to 9 m away from the tree (Yang et al, 2015).…”

The Influence of Trees on Crop Yields in Temperate Zone Alley Cropping Systems: A Review

“…A LER ≥ 1 epitomizes a positive or at least indifferent effect of ACS on-site productivity. For temperate conditions, LERs of between 0.94 and 1.35 have been determined for ACS with various planting patterns of black locust and triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) in Hungary [17]; of 1.41 for ACS with willow and spring wheat, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and squash (Cucurbita spec. L.) in the UK [18]; and of 0.98 for ACS with black locust, poplar and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in a post-mining landscape in Brandenburg [19].…”

Carbon Sequestration in the Aboveground Living Biomass of Windbreaks—Climate Change Mitigation by Means of Agroforestry in Hungary

“…According to the knowledge of the authors, in Hungary, no countrywide estimate on the carbon sequestration of agroforestry systems has been made available yet. Honfy et al [29] carried out a case study of alley cropping systems of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) intercropped with triticale (× Triticosecale W.) and evaluated the land equivalent ratios (LER). They found that most of the tested treatments had favorable LER ratios when the trees were five years old [29].…”

“…Honfy et al [29] carried out a case study of alley cropping systems of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) intercropped with triticale (× Triticosecale W.) and evaluated the land equivalent ratios (LER). They found that most of the tested treatments had favorable LER ratios when the trees were five years old [29]. As LER ratios higher than one signify increased biomass production when compared to sole cropping, we can assume that the carbon sequestration of agroforestry systems is also higher than that of land used only for agricul-tural crop production.…”