Alley Farming for Improved Water Management and Nutrient Cycling

Agroforestry systems have long been advocated as one approach to improve water management. This report describes research into the water use and yield trade-offs involved in alley farming systems where trees are mixed with crops and pastures. While this report deals specifically with alley cropping systems on sandplain soils, the principles involved and the research methods used are applicable to measuring the trade-offs between water use and crop yield in other environments.