Agroforestry Systems Hesse II
Further development of agroforestry research and practice at the Gladbacherhof
Background
With the three agroforestry systems (GH1-GH3) at the Gladbacherhof (GH), the teaching and experimental farm of Justus Liebig University Giessen in Villmar-Aumenau, a unique location in Germany was created in the first project phase of Agroforestry Systems Hesse I. Here, three different modern agroforestry systems with a total area of 15 hectares can be compared and studied in close proximity to each other. Over the past three years, a great deal of practical knowledge has already been gained and scientific data collected. We want to build on this in the second phase of the project and promote research and knowledge exchange with practitioners, scientists, consultants, administrators, politicians and other interested parties.
Aims
The overarching aim is to further develop the agroforestry research infrastructure at the Gladbacherhof.
The individual objectives include:
- Measures to maintain the existing three agroforestry systems.
- Expansion of the data infrastructure for long-term analysis and documentation of the agroforestry systems.
- Research into the economics and ecological performance of agroforestry systems.
- Development of an innovative, time-saving method for recording carbon storage in the soil in AFS.
- Communication, exchange and knowledge transfer on agroforestry for agricultural practice and research.
Implementation
The three AFS are maintained and managed and the individual work steps are recorded and documented. The scientific investigations include, among other things, the annual recording of the biomass growth of the woody plants, the yield survey of the arable crops and soil investigations by means of percussion coring down to a depth of one meter. In addition, the occurrence of wild animals is to be documented and the development of the systems recorded over the years by means of photo and video documentation. The knowledge will be shared through publications, guided tours, lectures, videos and workshops.
Main Coordinators
Professorship of Organic Farming
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Gattinger
- Dr. Philipp Weckenbrock (Philipp.Weckenbrock@agrar.uni-giessen.de)
- Eva-Maria Minarsch (Eva-Maria.Minarsch)
Professorship of Landscape, Water and Biogeochemical Cycles
- Prof. Dr. Lutz Breuer
Project Advisory Board
- Sepp Braun, organic farmer in Bavaria, with many years of agroforestry experience
- Anett-Christin Hochheim, head of the Office for Rural Areas, Environment, Veterinary Affairs and Consumer Protection, District of Limburg-Weilburg
- Burkhard Kayser, freelance consultant and agroforestry expert
- Nikola Lenz, Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting and Homeland (HMLU)
- Dr. Joachim Milz, long-terme xperience with successional agroforestry systems in practice and consulting
- Monika Schneider, long-term experience in the management of a long-term agroforestry experiment in Bolivia
- Christian Siebert, Competence Center HessenRaw materials and advice center at Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH)
-
Dr. Ute Williges, organic farming advisory team at Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH)
Project Duration
October 2023 - September 2026
Funding
Project number: 895-0736-23-511-8-028