Date of Award

3-2023

Degree Name

MS in Environmental Sciences and Management

Department

Natural Resources Management

College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

Dr. Nicholas Babin

Advisor Department

Natural Resources Management

Advisor College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Climate-appropriate agroforestry can provide low-input food security and ecosystem services for local Californian Mediterranean climates, while conserving natural resources (e.g., water, nitrogen, etc.). This project showcases a variety of agroforestry methods for five common plant communities of California and other analogous Mediterranean climates at the CAFES Experimental Farm on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Plant community species and their ethnobotanical uses were analyzed to mimic and incorporate aspects of native flora. Agricultural plants were also characterized to represent each of the five selected plant communities. GIS was used to assess the project site for soil, slope, and other variables to inform the Agroforestry orchard design. A management plan was lastly developed for continued maintenance and data collection propositions. The core result of this project is the actual “Demonstration Agroforestry Orchard” as a living example of the integration of agriculture with five of our local plant communities around the Mediterranean climates of California, noting the initial responses and changes during and after planting. The agroforestry system is available now for use as an educational hub to support students and faculty in experiential field research. The ultimate goal is to provide a teaching space for education and outreach to support farmers and land restoration efforts as we transition to a more integrated and sustainable agricultural and ecological industry. Climate-appropriate agroforestry can provide low-input food security and ecosystem services for local Californian Mediterraneanclimates, while conserving natural resources (e.g., water, nitrogen, etc.). This project showcases a variety of agroforestry methods for five common plant communities of California and other analogous Mediterranean climates at the CAFES Experimental Farm on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Plant community species and their ethnobotanical uses were analyzed to mimic and incorporate aspects of native flora. Agricultural plants were also characterized to represent each of the five selected plant communities. GIS was used to assess the project site for soil, slope, and other variables to inform the Agroforestry orchard design. A management plan was lastly developed for continued maintenance and data collection propositions. The core result of this project is the actual “Demonstration Agroforestry Orchard” as a living example of the integration of agriculture with five of our local plant communities around the Mediterranean climates of California, noting the initial responses and changes during and after planting. The agroforestry system is available now for use as an educational hub to support student and faculty in experiential field research. The ultimate goal is to provide a teaching space for education and outreach to support farmers and land restoration efforts as we transition to a more integrated and sustainable agricultural and ecological industry.

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