Summary
This narrative review examines alley cropping—the integration of trees with annual row crops—as a transformative agroforestry practice with significant potential for climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration in temperate agriculture. The authors propose two frontiers to expand temperate alley cropping: diversification through woody polycultures and wider adoption of tree crops for food and fodder production. The paper argues that alley cropping can deliver climate benefits through emissions reductions, overyielding, enhanced resilience to weather extremes, and improved soil and water management, whilst being ready for near-term implementation on marginal lands.
Regional applicability
This review is highly relevant to United Kingdom conditions, where temperate agroforestry systems are increasingly considered within climate-change mitigation and ecosystem-service frameworks. The proposed frontiers—particularly diversified woody polycultures and food/fodder tree integration—align with UK policy drivers including the Farm Management Plan and Net Zero commitments, though UK-specific data on overyielding and climate sequestration in alley-cropping systems remain limited.
Key measures
Climate change mitigation potential, land-use efficiency (overyielding), biodiversity, soil erosion reduction, nutrient- and water-use efficiency, adaptation to weather extremes, income diversification
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews alley cropping as an agroforestry practice and proposes two frontiers for expansion: woody polyculture diversification and expanded use of tree crops for food and fodder. It assesses the potential for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and ecosystem service provision through alley cropping in temperate zones.
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