Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Systems

The interactions of arable land, woody plants and grassland are ecologically and also economically interesting and are new scientific territory in Germany. While agricultural and forest areas are sharply separated, they are considered together on the basis of a “utilized landscape” approach. This becomes relevant when local recreation, nature conservation and efficiency are thought about and implemented together.

Examples are contract nature conservation on extensive park-like pastures, forest pasture, fodder hedges, shade trees, raptor protection, curtilages as windbreaks and also short rotation plantations. Agroforestry can also be an income option in the future as a CO2 sink, as a valuable renewable resource (wood) and also for harvesting nuts, berries, fruits and fruits. For organic farming, the functional options are also interesting, for example, when beneficial insects need seasonal habitat changes (many bird species, insects, amphibians). In pasture farming, land efficiency can be increased if, for example, monogastric animals (poultry, pigs) are kept on wooded areas or ruminants on orchards. Decisive for the success of agro-silvo-pastoral systems are economic competitiveness, positive ecological effects and technical adaptations.

Projects

Beef from nature reserves

Goal of the on-farm projects was the development and assessent of integration of old endangered dairy cattle breeds and landscape management into milk producing farms.

Monitoring of biodiversity in Trenthorst

Development of the natural biodiversity on the experimental station of the Trenthorst estates since conversion towards organic farming in 2001

Optimized sustainable pasture utilisation of the semi-arid savanna in the Kalahari

Grazing is still the most important utilisation of the vast semi-arid savannas of Afrika. This areas are endagered due to climate change and not sustainable herd management (degradation and desertification). With measures of organic farming and holostic management we try to increase the natural biomass production and therefore the production of meat in kg per hectare and year. This will result in better profitability and performance of grassland farming.

Biotope management with goats and sheep

Many areas in Germany are protected for nature purposes and suffering by shrub invasion. Goats like shrub browsing. The ability of goats to maintain protected biotopes was developed.

Pasture based fattening of male dairy calves – an option for the future?

Today, immediate separation of cow and calf after parturition is common in dairy farming. However, an alternative is the dam Pasture based fattening of male dairy calves – an option for the future?

Bros on pasture

Wir untersuchen die Gemischt-Beweidung durch Bruderhähne und -kälber auf einer Weidefläche, die durch streifenförmige Pappel-KUPs unterteilt ist. Ziel ist die Bewertung dieser Haltungsform nach ökonomischen und Tierwohlaspekten.

CatchHedge - Carbon sequestration of hedgerows and field copses

Hedgerows contribute to mitigating climate change - new plantings of hedgerows on arable land have great potential to contribute to climate protection. Hedgerows store nearly as much carbon per hectare as forests.

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Institute of

OF Organic Farming