The second agroforestry system was planted on the Gladbacherhof at the end of November. This is a so-called silvopastoral system in which trees are planted on eight hectares of newly created grassland. Dairy cows from the Gladbacherhof will graze here from next year. “Over the course of several days, we planted over 400 trees with the active support of around 50 students from an agroforestry seminar,” says Dr. Philipp Weckenbrock, who is in charge of the agroforestry areas at the University of Giessen. “As in the first agroforestry system, apple trees are the main tree species. In future, they will provide the raw material for apple spritzer for the University of Giessen’s canteen,” says Weckenbrock. Between the apple trees are valuable timber trees such as wild cherry, walnut and wild service tree. At the end of the winter, they will be joined by speierling and sweet chestnut. In some of the rows of trees, the value trees are accompanied by pioneer trees such as black alder, poplar and bluebell. In addition to the economic benefits, the tree strips will provide shade for the dairy cows in the future.
14. December 2021