University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Preliminary modeling of light availability in a diverse agroforestry system using a spatially explicit forest simulator

Stanek, Erik; Wolz, Kevin; Lovell, Sarah Taylor

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Stanek_Wolz_Lovell.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95955

Description

Title
Preliminary modeling of light availability in a diverse agroforestry system using a spatially explicit forest simulator
Author(s)
  • Stanek, Erik
  • Wolz, Kevin
  • Lovell, Sarah Taylor
Issue Date
2016
Keyword(s)
  • Agroforestry
  • light
  • modeling
  • woody crops
  • polyculture
Date of Ingest
2017-04-26T18:34:30Z
Abstract
Researchers theorize there is a particular spacing within and between rows that maximizes light capture given size, shape, and opacity of woody species in diverse agroforestry systems (DAS). Studies of these mixed perennial cropping systems have failed to analyze this optimum spacing quantitatively. This study attempts to address this issue through the following aims: (1) determine optimal layouts for light capture, (2) calculate percentage of light received by species at different layout densities, and (3) better understand differences in light availability at plant and plot scales. This study modeled four University of Illinois DAS research treatments ranging from one to three species within a tree row. The spatially explicit forest simulator, SORTIE-ND, was used to analyze the light availability, referred to as global light index (GLI), at treatment maturity on a 1-m2 basis across the field site. Results reveal that GLI is lowest when species spacing is decreased and canopy levels do not overlap. On a plot scale, treatments containing tree rows with multiple canopy levels of distinctly separate heights allowed for maximum GLI while tree rows with only a single species had the lowest. On a plant scale, the tallest trees received near full light as long as canopies did not overlap. Understory shrubs received little to no light when density and number of tree canopies increased. Adjusting the density and number of canopy levels in DAS has significant effects on GLI, but should be further studied using additional treatments to identify quantitative optimum.
Publisher
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Article
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95955
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Erik Stanek, Kevin Wolz, and Sarah Taylor Lovell

Owning Collections

i-ACES - Vol. 2, no. 1 2016 PRIMARY