HORT 818 – Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture

Fall leaves

Instructor(s): Lord Ameyah

Number of Credit Hours: 3

Cross-listings: PLAS 418, NRES 417, NRES 817

Prerequisites: 12 hours biological or agricultural sciences.

Description: The roles of woody plants in sustainable agricultural systems of temperate regions. Emphasis on the ecological and economic benefits of trees and shrubs in the agricultural landscape. Topics include: habitat diversity and biological control; shelterbelts structure, function, benefits and design; intercropping systems; silvopastoral systems; riparian systems; and production of timber and specialty crops. Comparison of temperate agroforestry systems to those of tropical areas  

Learning Outcomes/Course Objectives

  1. Describe the five agroforestry practices used in the United States (i.e. Alleycropping, Forest Farming/Multi-story Cropping, Silvopasture, Riparian Forest Buffers and Windbreaks) and their contextual suitability.
  2. Analyze the environmental, social, and economic foundations of agroforestry practices.
  3. Evaluate natural resource concerns as they relate to agroforestry practices.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of existing landowner financial and technical assistance opportunities associated with natural resource concerns and agroforestry practices.
  5. Recognize the importance of forest management plans and its applicability to agroforestry practice.