Poster
Cultivating Climate Resilience: Quantifying the Nutrient Management Potential of Agroforestry with Shaded Microclimates
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2023
American Geophysical Union
AGU25 (San Francisco, USA, 11/12/2023–15/12/2023)
American Geophysical Union 2023 fall meeting
18/12/2023
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Abstract
Agroforestry has expanded in recent years as a sustainable agriculture solution that promotes ecosystem biodiversity and soil health to address the threat climate change poses to food security. Shading is a major component of multi-level agroforestry systems such as Silvopasture. However, the effects of shading on soil processes in temperate climates are understudied. We investigated the role of shading by perimeter plantings in stabilizing soil microclimate and its effects on biogeochemical cycling in a dairy farm planted with 15-year-old native harakeke (flax, Phormium Tenax) in Canterbury, New Zealand. We hypothesized that shading would stabilize microclimate through reduction of temperature extremes, maintaining soil moisture retention, increasing soil organic matter loading, and improving nutrient retention.By sampling in transects from these native plantings to pasture (n= 72), we measured microclimate response to shade by monitoring light levels, air temperature, humidity, soil temperature, and soil moisture across soil types and compared to non-planted controls for spring 2025. Previous work on this site identified soil physical properties as a determinant of soil carbon loading capacity. Here, we aimed to build on this knowledge by quantifying the influence of perimeter plantings on carbon storage and if these effects extend into the pasture. To test these effects, we quantified organic and inorganic nitrogen, carbon pools, and microbial activity. Preliminary findings showed shaded light levels differ with distance from plantings, creating spatial variation in soil moisture and temperature past the extent of planting boundaries. This study explores the role of microclimate changes on nutrient conservation at farm scale, and thus has implications on how farms can be designed to fully utilize the ecosystem services which bolster food production under climate change.
Details
- Title
- Cultivating Climate Resilience: Quantifying the Nutrient Management Potential of Agroforestry with Shaded Microclimates
- Creators
- Naomi S. Wells - Lincoln UniversityClaire Hudson - Lincoln UniversityCharlotte Alster - Lincoln UniversityTim Clough - Lincoln UniversitySam McNally - Landcare Research NZ (New Zealnd, Lincoln)
- Publication Details
- American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2023
- Conference
- American Geophysical Union 2023 fall meeting
- Event
- AGU25 (San Francisco, USA, 11/12/2023–15/12/2023)
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union
- Identifiers
- 991013341490802368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Poster