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Riparian Buffers Riparian forest buffers are strips of trees, shrubs and grass planted between cropland or pasture and surface water courses. About Riparian Buffers Riparian Buffer Articles What is a Riparian Buffer? Riparian Buffer Benefits More about Riparian Buffers What is a Riparian Buffer? Riparian forest buffers are strips of trees, shrubs and grass planted between cropland or pasture and surface water courses. Buffers protect water quality, reduce erosion and flooding. Riparian forest buffers can provide beneficial opportunities for row crop farmers, ranchers, horticulturists, and dairy and livestock producers. Riparian buffer of native trees and vegetation along creek between agriculture fields. Image Credit Riparian Buffer Benefits Riparian forest buffers provide economic, social and environmental benefits Water quality. Buffers have been shown to reduce non-point source pollution by absorbing and filtering animal wastes, sediments, nutrients and pesticides from crop and rangelands. Erosion and flood control. Riparian buffers combined with bioengineering practices help stabilize streambanks, slow out-of-bank flood flows, and protect cropland from flooding. Extra Income. Multirow riparian buffers can be managed to allow the periodic harvest of timber or non-timber products while still maintaining buffering capacity. This helps offset the loss of productive crop or pasture land to buffers. Wildlife habitat. Riparian forest buffers provide shade, shelter and food for fish and aquatic organisms, as well as terrestrial wildlife. More about Riparian Buffers Design & Management: Riparian forest buffers are designed to fulfill different purposes How a riparian buffer functions, and the services it provides, depends on its length and width, the variety of plant species included, and how it is managed after establishment. The standard design for riparian buffers suggested by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service consists of three distinct zones (see diagram below). This standard is modified on a case by case basis to suit the goals of the individual landowner and the characteristics of the site. Whatever the design, careful monitoring and active management are required after establishment to keep buffers functioning as intended. Cross section of a three-zone riparian forest buffer (adapted from USDA NRCS Riparian Forest Buffer Conservation Practice Job Sheet 391) Cross section of a three-zone riparian forest buffer (adapted from USDA NRCS Riparian Forest Buffer Conservation Practice Job Sheet 391) Grow specialty nontimber crops in riparian areas A variety of potential agroforestry enterprises based on trees and shrubs planted in buffers have been suggested. These include special forest products such as botanical, medicinal, floral and edible products, Christmas trees, timber production, and wildlife recreation. In the three-zone model of a riparian forest buffer, the intermediate area (Zone 2) and the area next to the cropland (Zone 3) are more suitable than Zone 1 for active management and production of trees and shrubs for a variety of products. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, a variety of native plants could be cultivated for saleable products beneath the tree canopy in any zone of a riparian buffer, e.g., Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), Red elderberry (Sambucas racemosa), Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), and Salal (Gaultheria shallon). Christmas trees, such as Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) could be grown in Zone 2 on a 7-8 year rotation. Buffers protect water quality Riparian buffers consisting of a combination of trees, shrubs and grasses are proven effective in trapping and filtering sediments, nutrients and chemicals in runoff from cropland and pastures. Plants absorb nutrients and chemicals that would otherwise flow into adjacent waterways. In order to be effective for water quality protection, buffers need to be sufficiently wide to slow down overland flow velocity and allow adequate time for nutrient uptake and sediment trapping. Since nutrients and sediments accumulate within plant tissue and on the surface of herbaceous species, maintenance of filtering capacity requires either long term storage (in large trees) or periodic harvesting to stimulate new growth which has a greater capacity to absorb nutrients. Buffers reduce soil erosion Plants in riparian buffers help control soil erosion by stabilizing soil with their roots and acting as a physical barrier to reduce overland water flows. By slowing down the water, they promote infiltration and reduce channel flow and gully formation. Deep-rooted trees and shrubs stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion and sedimentation. Grasses The spreading fibrous roots of grass species bind soil to reduce erosion and their fine foliage at ground level traps sediment. Buffers improve habitat for fish and terrestrial wildlife Riparian buffers create habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Large trees adjacent to streams moderate stream temperatures through shading, and provide a source of large woody debris. Salmon, for example, need cool water temperatures and streambed gravel free of excess sediment for reproduction. Large fallen logs in streams catch and scour the gravel vital to salmonid reproduction and provide them places to hide from predators. Native trees and shrubs also provide terrestrial birds and animals with food, cover, nesting sites and travel corridors. Riparian Buffer Articles Aún no hay ninguna entrada publicada en este idioma Una vez que se publiquen entradas, las verás aquí.

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Alley Cropping The cultivation of food, forage or specialty crops between rows of trees. About Alley Cropping Alley Cropping Articles What is Alley Cropping? Alley Cropping Benefits Alley Cropping Enterprises What is Alley Cropping? Alley cropping is the cultivation of food, forage or specialty crops between rows of trees. It is a larger version of intercropping or companion planting conducted over a longer time scale. Alley cropping can provide profitable opportunities for row crop farmers, hardwood timber growers, nut growers and Christmas tree growers. Corn rows between Black walnut trees in a field. Image credit. Alley Cropping Benefits Alley cropping benefits both humans and the environment. Income diversification: Crop production during the years before nut trees come into bearing or hardwood timber is harvested creates cash flow and diversifies farm income, thereby improving the return on long-term investments in trees. Marginal land improvement: By planting rows of nut or timber trees on land where annual crop production is low due to erosion or other limitations, marginal croplands may be converted to higher value woodlands. Shelter: Rows of trees reduce wind speed, thereby controlling wind erosion. They also create sheltered microclimates that improves the yield and quality of crops growing in the alleys. Wildlife: Alley cropping increases the biodiversity of cropland which creates new habitat for wildlife. Young Black Walnut trees between rows of corn. Image credit. Alley Cropping Enterprises Hardwood timber or nut trees: Hardwoods such as black walnut or pecan may be combined with annual crops such as corn or soybeans. Forage crops can be cultivated between tree rows for harvest or livestock grazing, or shrubs palatable to livestock can be grown for fodder, e.g. tagasaste. Other possible alley crops also include specialty crops, e.g. herbal or medicinal, perennials such as conifers for Christmas trees, and even nursery stock, e.g. using the Pot-in-Pot system. Specialty crops and conventional field crops: Another alternative is to plant rows of perennial specialty crops within a field of tall field crops such as corn to diversify income while maintaining annual crop production. Cattle grazing among rows of young trees protected by tubes. Image Credit. Alley Cropping Articles Aún no hay ninguna entrada publicada en este idioma Una vez que se publiquen entradas, las verás aquí.

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Forest Farming Forest farming is the intentional cultivation of edible medicinal and other specialty crops beneath an existing managed forest canopy. About Forest Farming Forest Farming Articles What is Forest Farming? Forest Farming Benefits More about Forest Farming What is Forest Farming? Forest farming is the intentional cultivation of edible, medicinal or decorative specialty crops beneath native or planted woodlands that are managed for both wood and understory crop production. It does not include the gathering of naturally-occurring plants from native forests, also known as wildcrafting. Forest farming can provide profitable opportunities for forest and woodland owners, nut growers, sugar maple growers, and herb growers. Trails between forest botanical beds. Image Credit Forest Farming Benefits Forests can sustainably produce more than just wood. Extra income and diversification. Cultivation of specialty crops in a forest setting provides new sources of annual or periodic income before, or instead of, timber harvests. High value products. A wide variety of plants can be grown in a forest to produce natural or processed (value-added) edible, herbal, medicinal, decorative and craft products. Ecologically responsible. The intensively-managed cultivation of forest plants that are endangered in the wild due to over-harvesting is the responsible alternative to wildcrafting. Young Black Walnut trees between rows of corn. Image credit. More about Forest Farming Variety of non-timber forest products can be grown: Suitable species. Shade-loving plants that are naturally adapted to grow under forest conditions are candidates for forest farming cultivation. Research cultivation methods. Gather information about the biological and cultural requirements of understory plants in your forest. If possible, talk to other growers in your area. Research propagation methods and find sources of seed or cuttings. Forest management aspects: Forest management plan. Any forest farming enterprises should be integrated within your forest management plan. Determine any needed actions such as thinning, and any potential conflicts with silvicultural practices, e.g., herbicide applications. Silvicultural benefits. Management of the forest canopy to provide optimum light levels for understory crops, e.g. by thinning and pruning, also improves tree growth and wood quality. Marketing non-timber products from your agroforest: Inventory. The first step is to identify native plants growing in your forest that may have economic value, and to assess the soil and climatic conditions of the site. The understory plant community changes as the forest grows and with silvicultural activities. Determine all the possible uses of the plants and products that can be made from them. Market survey. Visit both retail outlet and wholesale buyers in your area to learn what forest-grown products they buy, including those produced from plants growing in your forest or which could be cultivated there. Learn about the buyer’s specific requirements regarding quantities, sizes, seasons, prices, etc. Direct marketing. Retailing value-added products made from understory crops directly to buyers takes time but will give the best return to the landowner. Potential buyers include restaurants, ethnic markets, natural food stores and the public via the Internet. Wholesale. By harvesting and processing understory crops grown in your forest, they can be sold to wholesale buyers. Growers can benefit by forming marketing cooperatives to provide a larger, consistent supply of plant materials. Leasing. The simplest way to generate cash income may be to lease a portion of your forestland to others who will grow and harvest understory crops, although the return to the landowner will be less than other marketing methods. A clear lease contract is vital. Bloom and bud stalk of American ginseng. Photo by Catherine Bukowski. Forest Farming Articles Aún no hay ninguna entrada publicada en este idioma Una vez que se publiquen entradas, las verás aquí.

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