In agroforestry systems, agricultural production (arable farming or pasture) is combined with forestry production (trees or shrubs for fruits, nuts or timber). This form of land management is associated with positive effects such as improved water and nutrient supply, increased soil fertility, reduced erosion, groundwater protection, climate protection, preservation of biodiversity and an expansion of the product range.
Test areas at TUM
Since 2023, TUM has been setting up its own agroforestry landscape experiments. At the Roggenstein experimental farm, around 20 kilometers west of Munich, 31 hectares of test areas have been created for this purpose. There are a total of 80 subplots where various agroforestry plots can be compared with arable and forest plots.
There is also a test site on the campus of the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising: the agroforestry showcase in Dürnast. The demonstration area covers 1.5 hectares and showcases four agroforestry designs.
Agroforestry Tree-Row Trial in Roggenstein
Since 2023, TUM has been systematically establishing its own agroforestry tree-row experiments. At the TUM Roggenstein Research Station, about 20 kilometers west of Munich, approximately 30 hectares of experimental plots have been set up for this purpose.
Key data:
- Two types of tree rows:
Nut rows: three walnut species, pea shrub, three forage shrub species (see image on the right for specific species)
Mixed tree rows: two walnut species, five alternative tree species, pea shrub, three forage shrub species (see image on the right for specific species) - Two different tree row lengths: 48 m and 96 m
Total tree row length: 3,840 m
Tree row management can be subdivided into 24-meter sections (e.g., mulch, flower mix) - Farming practices: organic
- Three field sites, each with different soil types but the same microclimate
Comparability ensured by the same number of tree row lengths and types per field site
A planting campaign took place in Roggenstein on March 26 and 27. This marks the completion of planting at the field sites. Click here for insights from the planting campaign.
Agroforestry Demonstration Plots in Dürnast
There is also a demonstration plot on the campus of the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising: the agroforestry showcase in Dürnast. The demonstration plot covers 1.5 hectares and features four agroforestry designs with mixed tree rows (three walnut species, five alternative tree species, three forage shrubs, and a pea shrub; see image on the right).
The demonstration plot was fully planted between November 2022 and May 2023.
Consortium
TUM:
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Knoke (Initiator), Professorship of Forest Management
- Prof. Wolfgang W. Weisser, Chair for Terrestrial Ecology
- Prof. Peter Annighöfer, Professorship Forest and Agroforest Systems
- Prof. Senthold Asseng, Professorship Digital Agriculture
- Dr. Lucie Chmelíková, Chair of Organic Farming and Agronomy
- Prof. Thorsten Grams, Professorship Land Surface-Atmosphere Interactions
- Prof. Thomas H. Kolbe, Chair of Geoinformatics
- Prof. Johannes Kollmann, Chair of Restoration Ecology
- Prof. Sara Diana Leonhardt, Professorship Plant-Insect Interactions
- Prof. Luisa Menapace, Professorship Governance in International Agribusiness
- Prof. Annette Menzel, Professorship Ecoclimatology
- Prof. Anja Rammig, Professorship Land Surface-Atmosphere Interactions
- Prof. Johannes Sauer, Chair of Production and Resource Economics
- Prof. Michael Schloter, Chair of Soil Sciences
- Prof. Kang Yu, Professorship for Precision Agriculture
- Prof. Mohsen Zare, Professorship for Soil Biophysics and Environmental Systems
HSWT:
- Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schauberger, Professorship for Agricultural systems and climate change
LfL:
- Dr. Annette Freibauer, Institute for Organic Farming, Soil and Resource Management
Coordination 2019-2026: Claudia Luksch (HEF), Dr. Margit von Lützow (HEF), Prof. Thomas Knoke (Professorship of Forest Management)
Contact person: Prof. Peter Annighöfer (Professorship Forest and Agroforest Systems)
