Project

Assessing crop performance in silvoarable agroforestry system in the Netherlands

Silvoarable agroforestry practices have gained renewed attention in Europe over the last few decades because they can deliver a wide range of ecosystem services, such as provisioning (food, fuel and fibre), support (e.g. nutrient cycling), regulation (e.g. biological pest control), and cultural services (e.g. recreation). These practices are theoretically suitable for large-scale managed landscapes and mechanized production systems. However, in Europe, silvoarable agroforestry systems are still rare and there is a lack of integrated quantitative analysis of crop productivity and product quality, and of pest and disease regulation delivered by different tree-crop combinations.

Project description

The PhD project focuses on contributing to the design and implementation of effective silvoarable agroforestry practices in the Netherlands. This project will
provide new insight on the effects of trees on surrounding environment and
consequently on crop growth, biomass, yield, pest and disease occurrence. This will further provide a way forward for optimizing the design and implementation of silvoarable agroforestry systems. This PhD project is affiliated with the PPS Verdienmodellen Agroforestry initiative. For more detailed information, you can visit this link.

Objectives and methods

Two main tasks:

  1. Desk study: Contribute to conducting a meta-analysis to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding the impact of various tree-crop combinations on pest and disease regulation, crop productivity, and product quality.

  2. Field experiment:

    1. Contribute to assessing the effect of tree strips on performance of crops, such as potato, cereal crops (oat/barley), etc.
    2. Exploring the influence of tree presence on the occurence of pests and diseases

Methods are:

  1. Experimental data collection in the field and analysis
  2. Laboratory work in Unifarm/Lelystad
  3. Meta-analysis

Expectations

Work independently in the field and agronomic laboratories.

Required skills

Skills and knowledge in performing field experiments and/or ability to conduct meta-analysis, are valuable. Having completed any of the following courses would be beneficial:

  • CSA34806 Advanced Agronomy
  • FEM-22803 Agroforestry
  • FSE31806 Agroecology

Additionally, a foundation in statistical knowledge is essential.

Types of work/research

We offer the opportunity for interested students
to take part in a field experiment or to do desk work (to conduct meta-analysis)
of a PhD project on silvoarable agroforestry system. The field work will be carried
out during the cropping season 2024, 2025 and 2026, in the Flevopolder,
Lelystad, the Netherlands. The lab work can be done either in Unifarm or in
Lelystad. The meta-analysis can be conducted from January 2024.

Period

April – until October (Cropping season)

Location

Flevopolder, Lelystad, the Netherlands