WT Info Alley Cropping

Info
Working Trees What is

alley cropping?
Photo: USDA National Agroforestry Center

Annual crops, like corn, provide annual income while long-term crops like walnuts mature.
A
lley Cropping is an agroforestry practice may be incorporated for extra income, including
where agricultural or horticultural crops sunflowers or medicinal herbs, planted in between
are grown in the alleyways between rows of nut or fruit trees alternated with nursery
widely spaced rows of woody plants. Alley stock trees or hazelnuts.
Cropping can diversify farm income, increase Alley Cropping can be used for other purposes
crop production, improve landscape aesthetics, such as short-rotation woody crops of fast grow-
enhance wildlife habitat and provide protection ing woody species that are combined with forage
and conservation benefits to crops. By combin- or row crops to produce fuelwood and fodder.
ing annual and perennial crops that yield mulitple Plantings to enhance wildlife and pollinator habi-
products and profits at different times, a land- tat also can be designed using appropriate species.
owner can use available space, time and resources Innovative landowners have developed a wide
more effectively. variety of other Alley Cropping designs and crop
There are unlimited planting combinations for mixtures. For example, various combinations
Alley Cropping systems. Common examples in of chestnuts, hazelnuts, persimmons, decorative
the Midwest include wheat, corn, soybeans or willows and ornamental foliage plants to produce
hay planted in between rows of black walnut or greenery have been grown for farmers markets
pecan trees. Non-commodity or value-added crops and other niche markets.
Benefits of alley cropping

Diversification of income Landowners who degraded shape, especially when tree and shrub
diversify by growing more than one type of crop rows are planted along contours. Woody roots in
are in a better position to tolerate market fluc- Alley Cropping systems help reduce soil erosion,
tuations or crop failures. Since timber, nut, or increase water infiltration, add organic carbon to
fruit-bearing trees may take a number of years to the soil, recycle and add nutrients and improve
mature, the space between the rows can be used to nutrient retention.
grow other crops that require more sun during the Improved crop health Tree and shrub cano-
early stages of tree establishment. In addition, the pies in an Alley Cropping system protect the
alleyway crops and trees mature at different times, inter-crops against wind damage and insect pests,
which provides periodic income during the year, moderate air and soil temperature extremes, and
rather than relying on a single harvest period. reduce moisture loss from the soil. Reducing wind
Improved soil health Alley Cropping is a effects also aids in pollination activities by benefi-
good option for areas prone to erosion or in a cial insects thus increasing yields of some crops.
Considerations for alley cropping
Harvest timing: Inter-row crop production must be carefully the inter-crops. Severe competition can reduce crop and tree
timed to avoid interfering with a potential woody crop harvest. growth and yields, particularly during dry periods. Competition
In most cases, this is avoided because crops are grown mainly may be reduced by proper variety selection, spatial arrangement,
during the early years of tree establishment or during the growing and timing of planting and harvest, as well as by disking, or prun-
season when there is little disruption by cropping activities. ing tree limbs or roots. Weeds will need to be controlled in the
tree rows for the first 3-5 years of establishment.
Crop marketing: It is always important before starting a new
crop to understand how and where the crop will be marketed. Woody Plant Selection Factors:
To assist in this, an enterprise budget with a cash flow plan is Adapted to site and soils
essential. This is especially critical and valuable for smaller, Produce appropriate shade
niche markets such as herbs, florals and specialty vegetables. Minimal roots at surface
Potential multiple products
Equipment use: Alley Cropping designs should be spaced Growth does not compete with inter-row crops
widely enough to allow proper handling of mechanized equip-
ment (e.g., tractor, planter and sprayer). This includes allowing System Design: Depending on objectives, the woody plants
space for the growth of the tree crowns. Rows and alleys should can be planted in single or multiple rows. The woody rows may
be arranged to facilitate easy operation of the widest machinery include plants that produce berries, florals, wildlife food, or other
to avoid damage to machinery, crops or trees. products. The inter-planted annual crops may be even more di-
verse: grasses for hay, cotton, soybeans, vegetables, ethnic herbs
Field Management: The system should be designed to optimize or various combinations of other crops. Crop choices depend on
the use of light, water and nutrients between woody plants and the priorities for production and preferences of the landowner.
Photo: USDA National Agroforestry Center Photo: USDA National Agroforestry Center
Shade tolerant grasses are baled in alleys between walnut trees. Alley cropping can be managed more openly like with these soybeans and
walnuts
More information on the Web

USDA National Agroforestry Center http://www.unl.edu/nac/alleycropping.htm
The Center for Agroforestry http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/ac.php
Association for Temperate Agroforestry http://www.aftaweb.org/alley_cropping.php
Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/standards/nhcp.html
Contact: USDA National Agroforestry Center, 402.437.5178 ext. 4011, 1945 N. 38th St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0822. www.unl.edu/nac
The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is a partnership of the Forest Service (Research & Development and State & Private Forestry) and the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service. NACs staffs are located at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE and in Blacksburg, VA. NACs purpose is to accelerate the development and application of
agroforestry technologies to attain more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable land use systems by working with a national network of partners and cooperators
to conduct research develop technologies and tools, establish demonstrations, and provide useful information to natural resource professionals.
A partnership of
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where appli-
cable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individuals income
is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Natural Resources
Conservation Service To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll free 866-632-9992
(voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at 800-877-8339 (TDD) or 866-377-8642 (relay voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
First Edition February 2012

WT Info Alley Cropping

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WT Info Alley Cropping

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

WT Info Alley Cropping

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Info

Working Trees What is

Photo: USDA National Agroforestry Center

Benefits of alley cropping

More information on the Web

First Edition February 2012

You might also like