Agroforstsystem Lommatzsch

These consist of five parallel strips, each comprising five rows of trees. The two outer strips were planted with four different high-performance varieties, which are now being analyzed as they grow. The varieties planted were “Vesten” (Populus deltoides x P. nigra), “Bakan” (P. trichocarpa x P. maximowiczii), “Dender” (P. deltoides x (P. trichocarpa x P. maximowiczii)), and “Matrix 11” (P. maximowiczii x P. trichocarpa). After a short growth period of several years, these fast-growing tree stands can be used for regional energy and raw material production. The central single strip was planted with wild cherry (Prunus avium ssp. avium), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata). These hardwood species are intended for long-term cultivation to produce high-quality timber, which can be sold to the timber industry as veneer or solid wood after approximately 40–60 years.

This agroforestry system was planted with a strip spacing of 72 m in a north-south orientation to significantly reduce wind erosion, improve water balance, minimize shading of the field crops, and at the same time ensure crop yields in the rotation, especially during dry years.