The Citizen, 1996-03-20, Page 39Agriculture 1996
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CORN YIELD AND WINDBREAK PROTECTION
(Leeward)
Ave. 6 Locations,
1980-83, SOILS,
RCAT, Ridgetown
Field
Ave.
6.84
6.47
112h 1h 2h 3h 4h 5h 6h 7h 8h 9h 10h 11h -.
Distance From Windbreak
(h = height of trees)
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1996. PAGE A-15.
Diversity important in reforestation, says technician
8.0
0 a)
2▪ 7.5
0
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6.5
Continued from A-14.
have a tree which produces some-
thing useful other than shade or
firewood."
A horticulturalist at the Unviersi-
ty of Guelph Arboretum, Henry
Kock, however, thinks that decidu-
ous trees, such as ash, oak, walnut,
chery and cottonwood, can slow
down the wind without blocking it.
All of these trees, he says, have
characteristics that allow a lot of air
through, but rather than deflecting
the wind, they slow it.
Smith says, however, that once
the conifers are there to provide the
shade, the hardwoods (maple,
beech, etc.) can seed in and, shad-
ed by the pines, will grow straight.
"To simplify, start with the
conifers, which then allows for the
other species."
"The real goal is diversity. We
know the results of working with
one species only," says Kock, refer-
ring to the sugar maple plantings
along Ontario's roadsides which are
all but virtually wiped out. "We
can't aford those mistakes again.
We plant different kinds of trees,
even in the same row."
With windbreaks, Smith says,
farmers must look at protecting
good productive areas. "That's
where you will have future addition
areas. " These are typically rows of
trees that run along the lot bound-
aries, then perhaps one or two rows
in the centre of a field."
For maximum protection a field
break, he says, should be located
180 to 300 metres upwind at right
angles to the prevailing wind. This
could consist of one row of cedar
and one of spruce. The second line
of defence should be a three-row
farm break established approxi-
mately 25 m upwind from the area
to be protected. The field break will
trap most of the windblown snow
and soil and the farm break will
settle out any debris which gets
through the first rows.
Kock disputes the classic wind-
break designed with two or three
rows of evergreens. "It takes a lot
of energy to actually get it installed
and growing. Because the wind is
deflected up and over the wind-
break there's a stagnant area down-
wind from these barriers." What is
needed instead, he says, is hun-
dreds of windbreaks across the
Ontario landscape. "It's the cumula-
tive effect of hundreds of wind-
breui—'-- that we need to strive tor."
A story in the Feb. 27, 1996 issue
of Farm & Country discusses the
yields of wheat and barley grown in
fields between rows of trees.
British trials of the silvo-arable
experiment, using poplar trees,
which have been planted every 20
feet, four inches in rows 32.5 feet
apart have shown an increase in
yields.
Researchers at the Department of
Biology at Leeds Universty
cropped winter wheat, spring bar-
ley and combining peas in rotation
between the rows of poplars since
1990. In 1994 the winter wheat har-
vest yielded four tons pre acre or
three per cent more than control tri-
als of the same variety of wheat
grown in open fields.
The silvo-arable research manager,
David Corry, states in the story that
there is a good market for the tim-
ber of the Belgian poplar hybrids
used in the trials. It is also pulped
for paper making.
Cony also says that the strips of
trees lessen soil erosion risk as the
root systems can act as mineral
scavengers taking up excess
nitrates from fertilizer given to
arable crops and preventing excess
run-off into ground water.
People are realizing there is a
problem and working towards a
solution. The options are interest-
ing and worth serious investigation
before beginning. Nurseries offer a
wide assortment of seedlings and
shrubs to meet specific require-
ments. Those with extremely large
areas to reforest may be daunted by
the cost of the venture, however.
"It's difficult for some individuals
to do without government subsidiz-
ing," says Smith. Information on
such programs is available from
MNR or conservation authorities.
Air, water, soil. Trees filter pol-
lutants from the air and use carbon
dioxide to produce oxygen. Trees
hold soil in place to keep water
clean. Properly placed they control
snow drifting and encourage mois-
ture buildup on fields raising the
watertable in the ground. Trees
Continued on A-17