Climate protection and adaptation is an important topic of practical research at the Gladbacherhof and at the 2021 Eco-Field Days. A new agroforestry area planted this spring will provide insights into the effects of linear plantings of various tree species such as apple, poplar, speierling, wild service tree, walnut and wild cherry as well as shrubs such as elderberry on arable land. Among other things, it is being investigated whether the deep-rooted trees and shrubs can reduce soil erosion on steep slopes.
“We are also expecting and testing positive effects, including on biodiversity, soil fertility, climate protection and the landscape,” says Dr. Philipp Weckenbrock, a research associate at Justus Liebig University Giessen who is supervising the trial. “There is also the hope that a higher overall yield can be achieved with three to four productive plant stands than on purely arable land,” adds the scientist. But what about the yields of arable crops in the partial shade of trees? Does the soil moisture increase or decrease due to the trees? And what about root competition between tree and arable crops? To answer these and other questions scientifically, Weckenbrock works with researchers from many different disciplines and institutions.