Practical studies in the agroforestry project: New pastures and flower strips for arable farming

In order to increase structural diversity and biodiversity on arable land and provide more habitat for insects, students from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) will be planting willow cuttings in Löwenberger Land (Oberhavel district, Brandenburg) on 17 April 2021 and creating flower strips. The planting by the Ackerbau(m) project is being carried out as part of the long-term study "Agroforestry: Model Project in Brandenburg" by 30 participants in the ILL Agroforestry module from various disciplines. The Innovative Teaching and Learning (ILL) module was launched in 2017, in which different departments work together on an interdisciplinary basis to improve the agroecosystem and soil fertility at specific locations.

HNEE students and lecturers are designing and researching the Ackerbau(m) project: On the agroforestry model project area in Löwenberger Land (around five hectares near the village of Großmutz), new willow plantings are planned for 17 April and flower strips are to be created. The HNEE long-term project is being organised as an innovative form of teaching and learning. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr Tobias Cremer from the Faculty of Forest and Environment and Prof. Dr Ralf Bloch from the Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation, students are conducting interdisciplinary research into increasing biodiversity. In addition to biodiversity, the topics include soil, climate, plant health and yield, remote sensing and public relations. The aim of the long-term scientific study is to use the knowledge gained to illustrate how a complex agroforestry system can be organised. Work has been underway for three years to implement the practical agroforestry system. Student tutor Lea Martetschläger explains that student interest and participation is very high due to the sustainable effects: "The innovative teaching and research approach creates a diverse learning environment to increase understanding of agroforestry. The site-adapted implementation offers a wide range of opportunities to improve agroecosystems and soil fertility. We are also planting on the farmland to protect against wind erosion."

In the summer of 2020, HNEE students planted around 1,000 willows, most of which were then lost due to game browsing. A game fence was now built around the area at the beginning of April so that willows can be planted again. The two metre wide strips of trees on an area of around five hectares near the village of Großmutz are arranged in such a way that the farmer cooperating with the project can continue to work the area mechanically. In addition, the willows are to be cultivated in short rotation and in three to four years' time will be used as fresh woodchippings to build up humus on the area. In addition, various flowering mixtures will be applied to the tree strips. These should not only reduce weed pressure (growth of weeds), but also increase biodiversity and provide a habitat for insects. Various mixtures are planned in order to compare their effectiveness. On 17 April, the individual tree protection will also be removed from the value trees, which no longer need it due to the fence. In addition to the work on the area with the value wood trees, maintenance work is planned for the area opposite. Willow strips for short rotation were planted there in November 2020. By replanting willows and valuable timber, the advantages of agroforestry systems such as protection against wind erosion and an increase in structural diversity and biodiversity on the land can be utilised. The willows are each planted between groups of three different value trees, which were planted in 2017 as so-called value wood tree groups (spireling, wild pear, tree hazel, wild service tree and red and sessile or pedunculate oak).

Since 2016, HNEE has been funding various projects via Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods that focus on the topics of sustainability and sustainable learning. Within the courses, lecturers have the opportunity to utilise financial freedom to test new approaches to imparting knowledge and skills and to try them out in practice. Problem-based and research-based learning take centre stage: students are actively involved in teaching and can devote themselves to real-life practical examples within specific subject areas. The project is financially and ideally supported by the university, the owner and the leaseholder of the land. The area is primarily being researched by HNEE students from all faculties, who are working on the following interdisciplinary issues relating to climate change and the characteristics of agroforestry systems:

• Are agroforestry systems an effective adaptation measure to the effects of climate change?
• What ecological and economic changes occur when arable land is converted into agroforestry systems?
• Which types of agroforestry systems are practicable for farmers?
• What ecosystem services can be provided by agroforestry systems?

The planting campaign does not take place in public, in compliance with the distance regulations. Lea Martetschläger is responsible for the accompaniment on the arable land in Löwenberger Land and for registering the press. Please contact the student tutor in advance!

• The project Ackerbau(m) works together with the DAKIS (Digital Knowledge & Information System for Agriculture) project of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and is involved in the activities of the DeFAF (German Agroforestry Association) via the university.
• Link to the project page