What isalley cropping?Alley Cropping is an agroforestry practicewhere agricultural or horticultural cropsare grown in the alleyways betweenwidely spaced rows of woody plants

Annual crops, like corn, provide annual income while long-term crops like walnuts mature

Alley Cropping can diversify farm income, increasecrop production, improve landscape aesthetics,enhance wildlife habitat and provide protectionand conservation benefits to crops

By combining annual and perennial crops that yield multipleproducts and profits at different times, a landownercan use available space, time and resourcesmore effectively.

Alley Cropping can be used for other purposessuch as short-rotation woody crops of fast growingwoody species that are combined with forageor row crops to produce fuel wood and fodder.Plantings to enhance wildlife and pollinator habitatalso can be designed using appropriate species

Benefits of alley croppingDiversification of income•Landowners who diversify by growing more than one type of cropare in a better position to tolerate market fluctuationsor crop failures. •Since timber nut fruit-bearing trees may take a number of years tomature, the space between the rows can be used togrow other crops that require more sun during theearly stages of tree establishment.

Improved soil health — Alley Cropping is agood option for areas prone to erosion or in adegraded shape, especially when tree and shrubrows are planted along contours. Woody roots inAlley Cropping systems help reduce soil erosion,increase water infiltration, add organic carbon tothe soil, recycle and add nutrients and improvenutrient retention.

Improved crop health — Tree and shrub canopiesin an Alley Cropping system protect theinter-crops against wind damage and insect pests,moderate air and soil temperature extremes, andreduce moisture loss from the soil. Reducing windeffects also aids in pollination activities by beneficialinsects thus increasing yields of some crops.