Factsheets

Why plant fruit trees?

There are various reasons why farmers in Switzerland have increasingly combined fruit trees with crops in recent years. One important motivation is to reduce soilverosion, and other benefits include thevreduction of nitrate leaching, and increased carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

Why manage the understorey?

In many agroforestry systems, the area between the trees and under the tree canopy is an overlooked and underutilised space. Unmanaged, this can create problems with weed control. This space can be put to productive use through planting crops that are adapted to shady conditions. In addition, when managed correctly, the tree understorey can be a resource for biodiversity, providing a habitat for beneficial insects and a food resource for crop pollinators.

How to optimize maize growth under cherry trees

Agroforestry is a traditional land use system in Voio, north-western Greece, in which farmers integrate agricultural production with high value tree species on the same area of land. This integrated approach ensures a steady economic return each year irrespective of weather conditions.

Managing non-crop vegetation within the field

If trees and crops are the productive components of the agroforestry alley cropping systems, a third component must be considered: the non-crop vegetation at the tree strip.