Agroforestry? Does it ring a bell? It contains “agro” and “forest”. You’ll probably tell me it must have something to do with trees. You’re almost there, so come on, we’re here to help. At Oé, we like to cultivate both the land and our minds, so let’s take a quick look at this practice. Here we go!
What is agroforestry?
Agroforestry is nothing other than the combination of silvicultural crops with trees and/or animals on the same agricultural plot. “Silvicultural crop”? Yes, yes, we’ll explain! Silviculture is the set of methods and practices that a forester or farmer implements to influence the development and sustainable management of a plot to obtain benefits or products without degrading the environment. In other words, this practice makes it possible to manage an operation sustainably.
Agroforestry techniques can be implemented in open fields or along borders. This type of companion planting, used in several types of crops, is perfectly suited to viticulture due to its many benefits (ecological, social, economic), particularly for biodiversity. Isn’t it great?
The different types of plots
There are many types of agroforestry plots: orchards, woodlots, hedgerows, and crops combined with or without livestock. Trees can be isolated, interspersed between rows of vines, in open fields, or in hedgerows along plot borders. Do all these terms seem incomprehensible to you? Can’t you picture it yet? Don’t worry, we’ll explain it all!
Orchards are types of orchards combined with fruit trees and pastures, woodlots involve pastures combined with wood production. Hedgerows, meanwhile, are hedges composed of different wood species.
There are many tree species: we can use poplars, fruit trees (pome or stone fruit), truffle trees (oaks and hazelnuts), fodder trees and timber, for example, to create agroforestry.
As for animals, their presence is naturally essential. Sheep (goats and sheep) can be used to manage vegetation, while poultry are great allies in keeping vineyards clean. We have plenty of examples, but you get the idea!
Photo by Thomas Iversen on Unsplash
The return to favor of an ancestral practice
Agroforestry is far from being a new practice; it is a historic practice that has come back into favor thanks to its benefits for biodiversity. Even in the Middle Ages, it was not uncommon to find agroforestry plots in beautiful regions such as Aquitaine or the Garonne. We can go back even further, to Antiquity, to find evidence of the practice in Mediterranean areas. Today, many landscapes still bear traces of this agricultural heritage.
The use of this agriculture is explained by the optimization of cultivable land through diversified production, as well as the protection of vineyards against weather conditions (frost, wind, drought). The phylloxera crisis of the 19th century, accompanied by mechanization, unfortunately led to the practice falling into disuse.
But over the past twenty years, we have seen a return to favor for viticultural agroforestry. The use of agroforestry plots appeals to modern farmers because they support an approach of ecological intensification within crops. This means that we are aiming for high-yield agriculture while minimizing the use of inputs. The practice of agroforestry is highly valued, particularly by winegrowers and farmers in organic farming. For winegrowers, the benefits will be numerous: trees create a microclimate that promotes yields, helps reduce soil erosion, optimizes resources, and promotes the development of biodiversity.
To discover our organic wines, click here
The benefits of agroforestry
Tree roots create conditions in the deeper layers of the soil and promote the supply of water and minerals to the crops on the surface. They limit nitrate leaching into the deeper layers and reduce pollution in the groundwater. When fallen leaves fall to the ground, they add organic matter and a significant supply of biomass. About 40% of a tree's biomass returns to the soil, which improves its fertility. Some tree species can even fix nitrogen and nourish crops, which reduces the use of inputs. It's magical, isn't it? No, it's organic farming.
The multiple benefits of agroforestry
Limiting soil erosion, pollution and inputs, increasing organic matter and fertility...And all this by planting trees and hedgerows? And that's not all. Agroforestry also helps create a microclimate in vineyards. Nature is wonderful, don't you think?
A microclimate in vineyards
Trees have the ability to regulate the climate. They can act as windbreaks and shields for crops against frost and drought. How is that possible? Simply thanks to the action of the tree and its many properties. The branches and leaves shade the vines, help reduce turbulence and temperature spikes. The roots receive and recycle water, which leads to increased humidity and cooler air. Trees have the ability to absorb CO2 and store carbon, which reduces the effects of climate change. We can't say it enough: trees are the most responsible beings on this planet!
Effects on farmers' economic profitability
In addition to its ecological benefits, agroforestry offers many significant economic advantages. INRA has shown that a 100-hectare agroforestry plot can generate as much biomass as a standard 136-hectare plot, which is a rather substantial productivity gain. This practice also has the advantage of diversifying production: fruit, straw, timber, energy wood. Farmers can offer different products while also saving on their own consumption and input purchases. Real added value!
What about the loss of land? Studies have shown that during the first year, we only lose about 8% of the area occupied by trees. With well-organized reasoned agriculture or organic farming, the drop in yields can be largely minimized and offset by the other benefits of the plots.
Agroforestry and biodiversity in vineyards
Biodiversity in the air...
When a storm hits the roof of your house or you see a hailstorm coming and you don't have an umbrella, you don't feel reassured, do you? Well, it's the same for animals in vineyards. By promoting the creation of a microclimate, agroforestry helps prevent stress in animals. Trees and hedgerows provide habitat and food for wildlife, especially for insects crop auxiliaries and pollinators. This helps bring back biodiversity to spaces that were once neglected due to a lack of natural elements or pollution. Birds, bees, bats, and arachnids are invited back to the party!
… even in the soil!
Planting is accompanied by the establishment of ground cover, to the great delight of earthworms. These species are indicators and drivers of soil quality. They are sensitive to certain components, such as chemical inputs or soil degradation, and willingly return to land that minimizes human intervention. By creating tunnels, they help circulate water and carbon and increase fertility. In short, it's a give-and-take relationship.
Diversity also exists at the level of microorganisms (fungi, bacteria). These represent the most abundant and diverse species within them. Like earthworms, they are sensitive to soil degradation and their presence is a good indicator of soil quality. Humans have even created the vermicomposter, in honor of our friends the earthworms, to make fertilizer. If you want to know more, here is an article on the subject 👉🏼 here!
Advice and support
Starting agroforestry is not something to be taken lightly; several factors must be considered depending on everyone's objectives. You need to know what types of species (trees) to plant, choose the right planting distances, and know how to maintain your plot. The Chambers of Agriculture can support farmers in their agroforestry project.
The Vitiforest Project is an experimental project designed to assess the relevance of agroforestry in viticulture. This project is carried out in three diverse viticultural contexts (Bordeaux, Cahors, Côtes de Gascogne) and a good source of information regarding the benefits of agroforestry plots.
Various levels of aid exist to encourage the planting of trees in vineyard plots. This aid can come from departments, regions, the government, or even Europe. The government also has 50 million euros for the "Let's plant hedgerows!". which encourages farmers to plant hedgerows on their plots.
Species selection and plot maintenance
For our part, we can offer several pieces of advice on species selection and plot maintenance.
Trees with light foliage and/or late-season varieties such as walnut or ash will not compete with the vines. Pine attracts insects that regulate the presence of pests just as fruit trees attract insectivorous birds. But the arrival of birds or bats must always be accompanied by the installation of infrastructure to promote their habitats, such as nest boxes, for example. Finally, the diversity of species leads to a diversity of crop auxiliaries which is good for biodiversity.
Also favor a North-South orientation to limit shading on the vines. As for the distance, a distance of 4 meters between the row of trees and the first row of vines must be planned, and a distance of 30 meters between each row of trees. In viticulture, an agroforestry plot can be limited to a density of 30 to 40 trees per hectare.
The Vitiforest project does not note any obvious competition between the vine and the trees over the first 10 years. However, techniques exist to limit competition: topping the trees every 10 years or ’irrigation to regulate water competition. Topping is nothing other than cutting off the upper part of the tree, the research chose this term so as not to make you tremble with the term of “plant decapitation”... We agree, “topping” is much better;
The social impact of agroforestry
The practice of agroforestry meets a growing ecological demand from consumers. We are increasingly concerned about the environmental aspect of our purchases and we want to buy organic and locally produced. Agroforestry plots are true allies of biodiversity. They limit the use of chemicals and human intervention as much as possible.
This is the case of our winegrowers Franck and Véronique in Pujol who chose this practice. Franck and Véronique make red wines, fruity and light that can be drunk with anything. For them, the practice of agroforestry has become obvious in order to develop their organic agriculture. They planted hedges, left areas of plant diversity to promote biodiversity in their vineyards. It is from their grape varieties that comes our delicious Bordeaux.
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As part of the Oé Program for biodiversity, we are partnering with Ecofarms and Miimosa to help Franck and Véronique with their projects.
