Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 2
Written by Cristian Mihai ENESCU

Agroforestry systems involve the integration of trees and shrubs with forestry value alongside cereals and/or other horticultural crops. In 2023, twenty 24m x 24m plots were established, with two of them planted with 800 raspberry plants (plot no. 3) and 800 blackberry plants (plot no. 8). The planting layout had a 1.2m row spacing and a 0.6m plant spacing within the same row. Another two plots were dedicated to cereals, another two to vegetables, while 14 plots featured a mix of various tree and shrub species. The purpose of this study was to emphasize the economic impact of incorporating non-wood forest products into the overall management of an agroforestry system. In the second year of the experiment (2024), the fruits were harvested and weighed. Calculations regarding the potential yields that could be obtained and comparisons with the costs needed for the maintenance works in forestry cultures were made. Preliminary results suggest that the combination of trees and shrubs is key to the sustainability of this agroforestry system. By adding additional shrub species, such as hazelnuts, the diversity of products can be expanded, providing landowners with more opportunities to commercialize a wider range of agroforestry products and additional time to manage them.

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