Abstract
Abstract Land degradation caused by erosion and nutrient depletion in the Andes poses serious existential threats to small‐scale farming. Although the potential of hedgerows to decrease water erosion is well recognised, their potential dual‐use as a source of organic amendments to supplement farmer inputs is much less studied. The objective of this investigation was therefore to explore locally developed options for hedgerows that address these twin challenges. Experimental plots were installed to assess water erosion control by hedgerows and the effect of organic amendments harvested from the hedgerows on soil productivity, soil moisture, and soil fertility over the course of 2 years and three crop cycles (two of barley and one of rye). The experiment was conducted in two sites within the community at distinct elevations and associated biophysical contexts. At each site, four treatments were established, comparing a control treatment versus three types of hedgerows: (a) Andean alder, (b) canary grass strips, and (c) mixed canary grass and Andean alder. Results demonstrated that hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean alder reduced water erosion by 50–60% and increased biomass production by up to 1.1 Mg ha −1 and grain yield by up to 0.5 Mg ha −1 . We conclude that although hedgerows are unlikely to produce sufficient quantities of organic resources to satisfy all nutrient input requirements, their potential to decrease erosion and supplement existing organic matter inputs indicates that they should be strongly considered as an option for improved agricultural management within this and similar resource constrained contexts.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Hedgerows and associated organic inputs from canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean alder, reduced water erosion by 50-60%.
- Treatment
- hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean aldere0
- Outcome
- water erosione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 50–60%e0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean alder reduced water erosion by 50–60%”
Claim · model-written summary
The same hedgerow treatments increased biomass production by up to 1.1 Mg ha −1.
- Taxon
- barley
.jpg?width=60)
Hordeum vulgaree2 - Treatment
- hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean aldere0
- Outcome
- biomass productione1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Value
- 1.1 Mg ha −1e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean alder”
e1“increased biomass production by up to 1.1 Mg ha −1”
e2“three crop cycles (two of barley and one of rye)”
Claim · model-written summary
The same hedgerow treatments increased grain yield by up to 0.5 Mg ha −1.
- Taxon
- barleyHordeum vulgaree2
- Treatment
- hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean aldere0
- Outcome
- grain yielde1
- Value
- 0.5 Mg ha −1e1
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“hedgerows and associated organic inputs comprised canary grass, and mixed canary grass and Andean alder”
e1“grain yield by up to 0.5 Mg ha −1”
e2“three crop cycles (two of barley and one of rye)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude hedgerows are unlikely to produce enough organic resources to meet all nutrient input requirements.
Verbatim
e0“hedgerows are unlikely to produce sufficient quantities of organic resources to satisfy all nutrient input requirements”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend hedgerows be strongly considered as an option for improved agricultural management because they decrease erosion and supplement organic matter inputs.
- Outcome
- improved agricultural managemente0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“their potential to decrease erosion and supplement existing organic matter inputs indicates that they should be strongly considered as an option for improved agricultural management”
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