< Back

Walnüsse, Mostbirnen & Wildgehölze

Lat: 8.6831837, Lng: 49.8728293
Hofgut Oberfeld Landwirtschaft AG
Erbacher Straße 125, 64287 Darmstadt, Hessen

Since the winter of 2023, a diverse agroforestry system has been established on two farm-adjacent plots, each in 5 rows per plot. Two rows on each plot were planted with grafted walnut trees (170 in total), two more in the winter of 2024 with high-stemmed pear trees (main use as cider pears, 80 trees in total), and a fifth row with various wild shrubs, presumably a year later. In addition, between the walnuts and pears, diverse pioneer shrubs are being planted, which will gradually give way to the main crop trees in the future or may be used as valuable timber. The wild shrubs are intended, in addition to promoting biodiversity, to provide shade for the adjacent pastures in the long term and possibly also to be directly grazed by cattle or chickens in a mobile coop.

Agroforestry system type:

Agrosilvopastoral system (woody plants/ arable crops and livestock)

Size of agroforestry system area(s) (in ha):

11

Percentage of area under trees/shrubs (in %):

9.091

Establishment (date):

Nov 30, 2023

Farming sectors:

  • Arable farming
  • Fodder production
  • Livestock farming

Tree species:

  • Maple (Acer spp.)
  • Birch (Betula spp.)
  • Pear (Pyrus communis)
  • Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
  • Alder (Alnus spp.)
  • Poplar (Populus spp.)
  • Robinia / Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  • Willow (Salix spp.)
  • Bird Cherry (Prunus padus)
  • English / Persian Walnut (Juglans regia)

(Intended) use of trees:

  • production biofuel wood
  • production stemwood
  • food production (e.g. production fruit/nut)
  • environmental benefits (incl. carbon/ windbreaks/ animal welfare/ biodiversity)
  • other material use

Shrub species:

  • Pea Shrub (Siberian Pea Tree) (Caragana arborescens)

(Intended) use of the shrubs:

  • environmental benefits (incl. carbon/ windbreaks/ animal welfare/ biodiversity)

Livestock species in the agroforestry system:

  • poultry
  • cattle

Main crop types in the agroforestry system:

  • barley
  • rye
  • common wheat

Motivation/rationale for establishing or maintaining agroforestry system:

  • establish ecological balance
  • Higher productivity
  • Erosion protection
  • Diversified product range
  • Contribution to climate protection / resilience
  • Protective effect for livestock
  • Landscape / aesthetics
  • improved marketing