Good Practice - Project
Alley cultivation in plains - participatory method development
Agroforestry demonstration farms supported by a Lifelong Learning initiative in Sweden show the potential of alley cropping for economic development and ecosystem service resilience.
General information
RDP Priority
- P2. Competitiveness
RDP Focus Area
- 2A: Farm’s performance, restructuring & modernisation
RDP Measure
- M16: Cooperation
Beneficiary type
- Non-governmental organisation
Summary
Alley cropping is an agroforestry practice involving planting commercial crops in alleyways between widely spaced rows of woody plants. Alley cropping can help diversify farm income, increase crop production, improve landscape aesthetics, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect crops.
CAP funds were used by a Lifelong Learning organisation in Sweden to help establish three demonstration farms testing alley cropping in open field arable systems. This project brought together farmers, advisors, and agroforestry experts to integrate rows of trees (apple, hazel, walnut) with conventional crops, thereby improving farm resilience, soil health, and ecosystem services.
Actions included establishing over 25 hectares of alley cropping, participatory field monitoring, training workshops, and sustainability assessments. Farmers tested different planting layouts, weed control methods, and tree species, while jointly evaluating results. Their applied research demonstrated that alley cropping can enhance environmental performance and maintain productivity.
Results
- Some 25 hectares of alley cropping systems were supported across three farms.
- Over 2 000 fruit and nut trees were integrated with arable crops.
- Sustainability assessments indicated improved biodiversity.
- 20 participants gained practical skills in agroforestry through field visits, workshops, and peer learning.
- The alley systems are expected to increase soil fertility, reduce erosion, and provide ecosystem services over time. Continued yield improvements from trees will be expected within 5–8 years.
Promoter
Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan Värmland
Funding
Total budget 1 036 150 (SEK)
EAFRD: 466 268 (SEK)
National/Regional: 466 267 (SEK)
Private/own: 103 615 (SEK)
Resources
Links
Context
Traditional arable farming systems in Sweden and across rural Europe can face environmental challenges such as wind erosion, loss of biodiversity, and vulnerability to climate extremes such as drought or heavy rain. Alley cropping offers a way to integrate tree rows that act as windbreaks, improve soil structure, and provide additional income streams (e.g., apples, nuts).
Alley cropping is an agroforestry practice involving planting commercial crops in alleyways between widely spaced rows of woody plants. Alley cropping can help diversify farm income, increase crop production, improve landscape aesthetics, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect crops.
Farmers can use available space, time and resources more effectively by combining annual and perennial crops that yield multiple products and profits at different times. Value-added crops can also be planted for extra income, and alley cropping is used for short-rotation fast-growing woody crop or forage species for fuelwood and fodder. Ecosystem services are possible from planting to enhance wildlife and pollinator habitats.
Three Swedish farms (Vena Säby Lantbruk, Lundens Gård, and Kyrkby Gård) worked together with a Lifelong Learning organisation in a CAP-funded project to study and understand more about the pros and cons of alley cropping for their specific production systems.
Objectives
A main objective was to develop agroforestry systems under Swedish conditions, aiming to combine food production with ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement via alley cropping in open-field farming regions.
Outcomes aimed to enhance the environmental performance and sustainability of farms in arable landscapes through the development of agroforestry systems. CAP support sought to improve biodiversity, soil health, and carbon sequestration while maintaining food production. Additionally, it aimed to strengthen farmer capacities through participatory learning, promote cooperation among stakeholders, increase awareness of multifunctional land use, support long-term resilience and adaptability of farms to climate change and market fluctuations.
The farmers wanted to enhance ecosystem services, mitigate pest pressures, and test adaptive climate strategies by filling practical knowledge gaps (e.g. optimal tree spacing, pest control, and weed management), thus responding to the farmers' needs for applied research that supports agroecological transformation and long-term resilience.
Activities
The three farms established and further developed alley cropping systems with funding support from the CAP. These agroforestry system actions combined fruit and nut trees and shrubs with traditional crops for enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Regular field visits and participatory observations were conducted to monitor crop performance, tree health, biodiversity, and soil quality. Farmers and the project leader jointly documented findings, fostering shared learning and practical insight.
Farms were assessed using sustainability indicators for agriculture and food systems. This included soil analysis (organic matter, nutrients, pH), earthworm counts, and insect monitoring to understand the ecological effects of alley cropping.
Multiple on-site dialogue meetings and farm walks were held with participating farmers, project leaders, and external advisors. Practical training in pruning, planting, soil improvement, and tree health monitoring was given to farmers. This capacity building was crucial in improving technical knowledge and ensuring the long-term success of the systems.
Project actions emphasised a participant-driven approach, facilitating the exchange of experiences between farmers and fostering a community of practice.
Main Results
- Project results established and developed approximately 25 hectares of alley cropping systems across three farms.
- Over 2 000 fruit and nut plants (including apples, hazelnuts, walnuts, and chestnuts) were integrated with arable crops.
- Sustainability assessments indicated improved biodiversity, with high earthworm counts and diverse insect populations documented.
- Crop yields were affected by seasonal conditions, but new baseline data for soil health, biodiversity, and productivity were established to support long-term monitoring.
- Farmers gained practical skills in agroforestry, pruning, and integrated farm management. Training reached over 20 participants through field visits, workshops, and peer learning.
- On-farm apple production began contributing to diversified income streams, including processing into juice, dried slices, and use in farm-made muesli.
- Strong collaboration was fostered between farmers, advisors, and experts, which contributed to building resilient, climate-adaptive farming systems.
- The alley systems are expected to increase soil fertility, reduce erosion, and provide ecosystem services over time. Continued yield improvements from trees will be expected within 5–8 years.
- Increased on-farm value-adding and potential job creation through product development and agroforestry expansion.
- There is also a long-term potential for replicating the model across other arable landscapes in Sweden.
Key lessons
- Many traditional farming tools could be adapted for alley cropping with minor changes, making the transition more accessible than anticipated.
- Damage from voles and drought was more extensive than expected. Future plantings should include physical root protection (e.g. wire mesh cages) and stronger pest control from the start.
- Some methods, such as synthetic ground cover (mulch fabric), proved too labour-intensive to remove and were also found to risk encouraging pests. Grass mowing and organic mulching were found to be more effective in the long term.
- Increased insect and earthworm activity, as well as improved pollination, were observed within the first two years.
- Regular dialogue between farmers and advisors significantly improved decision-making and adaptation. The participatory format was essential for trust-building and innovation.
- Tree growth, pest outbreaks, and weather extremes varied by site. Each farm required a tailored approach based on local soil, machinery, and crop systems.