Increasing biodiversity with special strip cultivation

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has started a special field trial. In a field near Lelystad there are rows of walnut trees and hazel trees with wide strips of potato plants in between. The aim of the so-called 'Agroforestry project' is to increase biodiversity and to deal more efficiently with what the soil has to offer.

According to the WUR researchers, there is a logical idea behind the composition of this field: those trees attract more insects to the fields and can extract nutrients and water from the soil deep down. "We know that trees take root more deeply than 1-year-old crops," says Wijnand Sukkel, one of the researchers of the Agroforestry project (a collaboration between WUR, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and various arable farmers).

"As a result, trees can absorb nutrients and water from the soil, among other things, even in places where a potato plant cannot." In this way, what the soil has to offer is used much more efficiently. "We also know that insects are more likely to be attracted to a varied landscape, compared to a field with only 1 crop," says Sukkel.

Results are waiting
The first trees were planted two years ago and the actual effect will be investigated in the coming years. However, the first results are not expected for the time being. "We only expect the first yields from the nut trees in 5 years' time when the hazelnuts start producing nuts," reports Sukkel. He may even have to wait 8 to 10 years for the walnuts.

And even then, not everything is clear. "We also need to know, for example, which varieties are suitable for planting between 1-year-old crops, what it does to the soil, how much time tree care takes and whether you can also sow flower mixtures in the tree strip," explains Sukkel. Clear advice on so-called 'agroforestry' will therefore take some time.  

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.