Maize yield in silvoarable systems established under Prunus avium L. in Galicia (NW Spain)

摘要

In recent years, in Galicia (NW Spain) the forest area has increased gradually and therefore the availability of agricultural area has decreased. This factor could favour the establishment of silvoarable systems in this region with crops such as maize, because in Galicia maize is the main forage crop to overcome periods of shortage in summer and winter. In silvoarable systems, the production of the crops depends, among other aspects, on tree species and its density when planted. The aim of this study, in Galicia (N W Spain), was to evaluate the yield of maize at different distances from the trees (1.5, 3 and 6 m) in a silvoarable system under Prunus avium L., compared with an exclusively agronomic system. The results obtained showed that maize production increased significantly with the distance from the trees and that maize production combined with trees was lower than the production found in the plots without trees, because of a reduction in maize yield and also due to the surface occupied by trees.