An Introduction to Woody Agriculture. Woody agriculture is a new agriculture discipline that focuses on intensive production of staple food and fuel crops using woody perennial plants.
It is similar to agroforestry and edible forest gardening, but does not mix woody perennial crops with annuals, herbaceous perennials, or livestock. Currently, most of the research on woody agriculture systems has focused on two crops: chestnuts and hazelnuts. Woody agriculture is an intensive system of production that establishes permanent stands of the woody crop through coppicing. Nuts are gathered annually, and the wood is typically harvested for biofuel or charcoal production once every 5-10 years. After harvesting, the plant regenerates from the roots and returns to food production the following year. Woody Agriculture: Increased Carbon Fixation and Co-production of Food and Fuel—Global Warming at arborday. Increased Carbon Fixation and Co-production of Food and Fuel December 1989; Cairo; Conference Copy Reprinted in 80th Annual Report of Northern Nut Growers Assoc.
Introduction to Woody Agriculture. You are here: Home > Info > Introduction to Woody Agriculture, pg. 1 Last updated October 14, 2005 Woody Agriculture refers to the intensive production of agricultural staple commodities from highly domesticated woody perennial plants.
It differs from agroforestry in that no annual crops are grown, and thus little or no tillage is performed. Permanent stands of the woody crop are established and seeds are harvested annually. Once every 5-10 years the wood is harvested for biomass by coppicing, whereupon the plants regenerate from the roots and resume production of the food crop one year later. Badgersett.com: Hybrid hazelnuts & chestnuts, Woody Agriculture.