Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of poplar (P. trichocarpa × deltoides) on soil biological properties in a silvoarable system

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A silvoarable experimental site in Buckinghamshire, England combined rows of poplar trees with an arable rotation. Soil properties were investigated using soil carbon and the bodysize of invertebrates. Four years after establishment, the soil within and 1 m from the tree rows has significantly higher soil organic matter and invertebrate populations. These effects do not extend far beyond the crown diameter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JM (1988) The role of soil fauna in agricultural system. In: Wilson JR, ed, Advances in Nitrogen Cycling and Ecosystems, pp 89–112. CAB international, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson D (1988) Biological factors influencing the growth of trees in agroforestry system: the significance of root system effects. In: Bock L, Rondeux J, Jarvis PG and Wilkins RJ, eds, Marginal Land and Efficient Afforestation. Commission for EC Report EUR 10841, Brussels

  • Avery BW (1980) Soil Classification for England and Wales. Soil Survey Technical Monograph 14, Harpenden, UK

  • Bullock P (1993) Comments in the Farmers' Weekly, 8th January 1993

  • Cousins SH (1991) Species diversity measurement: choosing the right indices. Trends Ecol Evol 6: 190–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocklin C, Parker S and Hay J (1992) Notes on accumulative environmental change: concepts and issues. J Environ Manage 35: 31–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA (1967) Relationships between weights, volumes and numbers of soil animals. In: Graff O and Satchell JE, eds, Proceedings of the 3rd Int Coll of Soil Biology: Progress in Biology, pp 585–594. North Holland Publishing Co, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA (1984) Changes in agricultural practice and their impact on soil organisms. In: Jenkins D, ed, Agriculture and the Environment, pp 56–65. Proceedings of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Symp. 13. ITE Publ., Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA (1991) Methods of assessing populations of soil inhabiting invertebrates. Agriculture, Ecosystems Environ 34: 145–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA, Madden P, Millar R and House G (1991) Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Soil and Water Conservation Society, IA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Felker P (1978) State of the art:Acacia albida as a complementary permanent intercrop with annual crops. Report to USAID. University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Friend AM and Rapport DJ (1990) The evolution of information systems for sustainable development. Occasional paper No 1. Institute for Research on Environment and Economy, University of Ottawa, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Giampietro M and Pimentel D (1991) Energy analysis models to study the biophysical limits for human exploitation of natural processes. In: Rossi C and Tiezzi E, eds, Ecological Physical Chemistry. Proceedings of an International Workshop, pp 139–183. Sienna, Italy. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Haberern J (1992) A soil health index. J Soil Water Conserv 47(1): 6

    Google Scholar 

  • Kort J (1988) Benefits of windbreaks to field and forage crops. Agriculture, Ecosystems Environ 22/23: 165–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DW and Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: A. L. Page et al., eds, Methods of soil analysis, part 2, pp 539–579. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman SM, Wainwright J, Morris RM and Oliver PN (1990) Energy from biomass in temperate agroforestry: a study of the design, productivity and light use efficiency of silvoarable systems. A report produced by Fountain Renewable Resources Ltd, Brackley, Northampton, UK

  • Newman SM, Park J, Wainwright J, Oliver P, Acworth J and Hutton N (1991) Tree productivity, economics and light use efficiency of poplar silvoarable systems for energy. Paper presented at the 6th European Conference of Biomass for Energy, Industry and the Environment, April 1991, Athens

  • Park J (1993) Towards a sustainable systems framework: the assessment of silvoarable agroforestry as an innovative cropping practice. Unpublished PhD thesis, Cranfield University, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson and Lohm (1977) Energetic significance of Annelids and Arthropods on Swedish grassland soil. Swedish Natural Resource Research Council, Ecological Bulletin 23

  • Platt T (1985) Structure of marine ecosystems: its allometric basis. In: Ulanowicsz RE and Platt T, eds, Ecosystems Theory for Biological Oceanography, pp 55–64. Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter CJ, Nixon CJ and Gibbs JN (1990). The introduction of improved poplar clones from Belgium. Forestry Commission Information Note 181

  • Southwood TRE (1978) Ecological Methods. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Strutt report (1970) Modern farming and the soil. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, HMSO, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas TH, Willis RW and Van Slykan J (1992) The potential for poplar based agri-silvopastoral systems on arable land in the UK. Paper presented at 19th session of the International Poplar Commission, Zaragosa

  • Thomson TRE (1992) Environmental quality objectives-two approaches to setting environmental standards. Biologist 39(1): 33–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood M (1991) Biological aspects of soil protection. Soil Use Manage 7(3): 130–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Young A (1991) Agroforestry for Soil Conservation. CAB International, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, J., Newman, S.M. & Cousins, S.H. The effects of poplar (P. trichocarpa × deltoides) on soil biological properties in a silvoarable system. Agroforest Syst 25, 111–118 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705671

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705671

Key words

Navigation