Permanent Cropping With a Sustainable Forest Paradigm
A natural forest system is regenerative and maintains its balance, remaining at an equilibrium with regards to water, nutrients, and light availability. Agriculture and gardens can also be modeled after this system, using correct design and appropriate species of food plants. An edible forest oasis can be created even in the hottest deserts, using the correct species of perennial food plants as shown above.
The concept is simple -- reproduce the natural regenerative forest system with chosen plants that produce food, medicines, and other useful products. Also called forest farming.
Agroforestry involves the food forest idea plus many other types of perennial plant and tree systems for both commercial, small farm and home applications. The simplest form of agroforestery is an orchard or woodlot. This can evolve into more complex forms, such as:
1. Hedgerows of perennial crops and trees
2. Mixed cropping systems
3. Multi story systems to mimic a natural forest
4. Use of nitrogen fixing trees and Neem trees in the design to produce on-site natural fertilizer and pesticides.
Perennial vegetables in an agrofrestry system. Under story vegetables are not visible.
Creating an Edible Desert Oasis
Even in the extreme desert, lush and vigorous multi story growth is possible in agroforestry designs, as shown in the example above. The only limiting ingredient is water, and a source of nutrients. The goal is to duplicate as closely as possible, the activities of a natural regenerative forest, in terms of:
1. Providing specific environments for each specie -- In multi level agroforestry (food forest) systems, just as in a natural forest, the sun loving food trees (such as Moringa) are found in the top level, vegetable bushes and vines requiring semi shade in the mid level, and edible groundcovers requiring summer shade on the lowest level.
Perennial vegetables (seen above) provide an optimum solution, as they encompass full sun trees, plus bushes and vines that prefer semi shade, and ground covers requiring full shade, with a fast growth rates and very high nutrition.
2. Temperature and humidity-- Due to the production of shade, and especially the evaporative cooling effect of the plants, the temperature below the top canopy can be as much as 20 degrees cooler, even on the hottest desert day. Humidity is also significantly increased, benefiting growth.
3. Nutrients -- Natural forests are regenerative and utilize continuous nutrient cycling. Organic matter falls from the trees and other plants to form a continuous sheet of mulch, as is found on a forest floor. The mulch breaks down into new organic soil and fertilizer, also creating an environment for beneficial microorganisms and fungi. Deep nutrient cycling takes place from the extensive roots of the top canopy, providing minerals form deeper soil strata. This is the goal in a food forest system.
Chaya and Moringa desert hedgerows. Note self mulching organic matter with blackberries below
4. Water -- Just as in a forest, water usage is efficient due to cooler temperatures and lack of wind, producing higher humidity.
Even in the desert, self regenerating food forests are possible with a significant mulch layer of organic matter that will accumulate with proper system design. Fruit trees, Neem trees, medicinal species, and other useful trees and plants can be added to the food forest system. The upper canopy level offers significant protection for understory frost sensitive species.
LBCAS can assist with design and implementation of all types of agroforestry and food forest systems for the deserts, drylands, and tropics.
Chaya (foreground) frost protected by taller African Moringa in the extreme desert.
Alley Cropping for On Site Fertilizer Production
Alley cropping is a technique whereby closely planted hedgerows of nitrogen fixing trees are grown in the field, with the hedgerows 15-20 feet apart. The area in between the hedgerows is called the alley, and in this area, annual or perennial crops are grown.
Nitrogen fixing trees have a rapid growth rate and contain significant amounts of nitrogen. The nitrogen fixing tree hedgerows are trimmed several times per year, with the material placed in the alley to act as a slow release fertilizer for the crops. They are trimmed to a height of 4-5 feet and allowed to regrow.
Alley cropping also produces semi shade and wind protection. The tree species used are determined by the environment in which they are planted. There are nitrogen fixing tree species for most climates, from the deserts to the tropics.
Alley cropping with nitrogen fixing tree hedgerows and maize in the center.
Understory Utilization
Small part of an understory planting of Curry Leaf, Kang Kong and Okinawan spinach in between Chaya and African Moringa hedgerows. The overstory species provide shade and temperature reduction in 120 degree heat, as well as producing a thick layer of mulch for water conservation. Without this protection, these species could not survive in extreme desert conditions.
Section of Brazilian Spinach planted under a California Pepper Tree for shade and cooling in the intense desert heat.
Perennial cotton, Brazilian Spinach the medicinal Cordia verbenacia, and edible hibiscus in the understory
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