JFES

Regular Article
pISSN: 2288-9744, eISSN: 2288-9752
Journal of Forest and Environmental Science Journal of Forest and
Environmental Science
Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 348-354, November, 2017
https://doi.org/10.7747/JFES.2017.33.4.348

Effects of Windbreak Planting on Crop

Productivity for Agroforestry Practices in a
Semi-Arid Region
1 2,
Hyun-Kil Jo and Hye-Mi Park *
1
Department of Ecological Landscape Architecture Design, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Landscape Architecture, Graduate School, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea

Abstract
Agroforestry has been practiced in arid and semi-arid regions for the purposes of preventing desertification and to
increase income for locals. However, the intended effects of such practices have been limited due to strong winds
and aridity. This study undertook multi-year monitoring of the productivity of income crops associated with windbreak
planting in a semi-arid region of Mongolia, and explored strategies of windbreak planning to enhance the multi-purpose
effects of agroforestry practices. The tree crown density of windbreak planting was on average 40% in one year after
planting and 65% 2-3 years after, and thereby windspeeds were reduced by about 30% and 54%, respectively. Average
windspeed reductions at leeward distances from the windbreak planting were approximately 60% within 3H (H=tree
height), 50% at 5H, and 42% at 7-9H, presenting a pattern in which the farther the distance the less the reduction
in windspeeds. The windbreak planting increased crop productivity by up to 6.8 times, compared to the productivity
absent of windbreaks. Increases in the crown density as stated above resulted in increases of crop productivity by
up to 3.6 times. Based on such results, this study proposed a model of windbreak planning as a typical land-use system
of border windbreak planting or alternate windbreak planting of combining trees and income crops. The model also
included tree planting with a crown density of 60% and allocation of income crops within a leeward distance of 5
times the height of the trees to reduce windspeeds by about 50%. The results from this study are applicable to practicing
agroforestry not only at the study site but also in other regions worldwide where strong winds and aridity are problematic.

Key Words: crown density, leeward distance, windspeed reduction, planning model

Introduction
The desertification of arid and semi-arid regions has led
to the development of yellow dust resulting in detrimental
effects on natural ecosystems as well as socio-economic sys-
tems in the form of air pollution, respiratory diseases, and
loss of biodiversity (KFRI 2004; UNCCD 2012; Reynolds
2013). The total desert area of the world is approximately
5.2 billion ha, which accounts for about 40% of the total
area of land, and an area of 6 million ha is becoming subject
to desertification every year (UNDDD 2010; UNCCD
2012). The total area of desertification in Asia comprises
approximately 1/3 of the total desert area of the world with
desertification mostly under progress in China and
Mongolia (KEI 2003), which causes damaging effects in
the form of yellow dust to neighboring countries including

Received: October 25, 2017. Revised: November 14, 2017. Accepted: November 16, 2017.

Corresponding author: Hye-Mi Park

Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of
Korea
Tel: 82-33-250-8345, Fax: 82-33-259-5618, E-mail: phm2071@gmail.com

348 Journal of Forest and Environmental Science http://jofs.or.kr


South Korea. Afforestation is essential to the prevention of
desertification, and agroforestry of mixing afforestation
with crops has been implemented as a sustainable method
of increasing income for locals in arid and semi-arid
regions. However, the growth of income crops in such re-
gions is poor due to strong winds and aridity, which has re-
sulted in limitations of reaching the intended effects of pre-
venting desertification and increasing income for locals.
Therefore, diverse studies regarding agroforestry were
undertaken to enhance the productivity of income crops in
arid and semi-arid regions (Finch 1988; USDA NAC
2002; Shapo and Adam 2008; Campi et al. 2009), and sug-
gested a windbreak planting as one of methods to mitigate
wind damage on income crops. Based on the above-men-
tioned studies, the windbreak planting reduced the evapo-
transpiration and uprooting of income crops caused by
strong winds and this led to improvements in quality and an
increase in harvest yields by 10-20%. The effects of wind-
break planting depend on the number of planting rows,
planting density, tree height, and the distance of the space
being protected from the planting (Robinette 1972; Grey
and Deneke 1986; Finch 1988; Huke and Plecan 1988;
Kort 1988; Miller 2015). The windbreak effects of mul-
ti-row planting were greater by up to 1.9 times compared to
single row planting (USDA NAC 2002), and the appro-
priate crown density to prevent income crops from wind
damage was between 40-60% (Grey and Deneke 1986;
USDA NAC 2002). Park et al. (2012) reported that the ef-
fects of a windbreak fence were most satisfactory in struc-
Jo and Park
tures having a height of 0.4 m or greater and porosity of
20-30%. The windbreak planting was effective downwind
up to 30 times the height of trees (Miller et al. 2015).
However, the optimal distance from the planting was found
to differ according to different researchers. To produce the
most satisfactory results, Grey and Deneke (1986) and
Finch (1988) reported a distance at 10 times the height of
trees while USDA NAC (2002) and Campi et al. (2009)
suggested a distance at 4.7-5 times the height of trees.
As indicated through these instances, due to possible dif-
ferences in the effects of windbreak planting within leeward
distances of 10 times the height of trees, additional research
regarding windbreak effects at shorter leeward distances is
needed. Moreover, despite the probable differences in
windbreak effects according to tree species and planting
techniques, windspeeds and growth conditions, cultivated
crops, and regional features, research related to such mat-
ters in semi-arid regions subject to strong winds and short
growth periods is currently lacking. Therefore, the purpose
of this study is to undertake the multi-year monitoring of
income crop productivity associated with windbreak plant-
ing and to explore strategies of windbreak planning capable
of enhancing the performance of agroforestry practices.
Materials and Methods
Study site
The site of this study was located at 47 degrees 19 minutes
north latitude and 103 degrees 42 minutes east longitude,
Fig. 1. Location of study site in
Mongolia.
J For Environ Sci 33(4), 348-354 349
Effects of Windbreak Planting on Crop Productivity for Agroforestry Practices in a Semi-Arid Region
as a property of the Desertification Research Center located
within the Elsentasarhai region of Mongolia (Fig. 1).
Administratively, the site is part of Rashaant Soum of
Bulgan Aimag, and is classified as a semi-arid steppe with
desertification currently in progress. The site was selected
due to it being possible to plant trees, sow income crops,
and undertake on-site monitoring through collaborative re-
search with the research center.
Windbreak planting and experiment design
This study established a plot of 3-row windbreak plant-
ing and a control plot with no windbreak across an area of
2 2
approximately 500 m in May 2014, and sowed income
crops in each of the plots (Fig. 2). Upon the recommen-
dation of locals and experts knowledgeable about the study
site, Populus sibirica and Hippophae rhamnoides were se-
lected as tree species for windbreak planting. P. sibirica is a
deciduous tree that naturally grows across the entire north-
ern region of Mongolia and is known for its drought resist-
ance and high wind tolerance (Ulziijargal 2011; Tungalag
et al. 2012). H. Rhamnoides is a nitrogen-fixing deciduous
shrub that naturally grows across the entire northwestern
region of Mongolia, which produces a fruit rich in vitamins
and amino acids used as ingredients for health supplements
and cosmetics (Lee et al. 2012; Tungalag et al. 2012).
Potatoes, oats, wheat, and alfalfa as income crops were se-
lected reflecting demands from locals and the short growth
period of plants between the end of May to early September
(MOFA 2011).
Fig. 2. Experiment design for windbreak planting and crop allocation.
350 Journal of Forest and Environmental Science http://jofs.or.kr
The 3-row windbreak plot was border planted with trees
to control winds from all four directions, in which P. sibirica
with a height of approximately 1.5 m and a crown width of
0.6 m was placed at the center of the planting rows and H.
rhamnoides with a low clear-length of about 1.0 m in height
and 0.3 m in crown width was planted in a zig-zag pattern
to the left and right of the P. sibirica. The total number of
trees planted amounted to 227 individuals which included
62 P. sibirica trees and 165 H. rhamnoides trees. Income
crops were distributed within a leeward distance at 10 times
the height of trees in consideration of their windbreak
effects. And 2 kgs of alfalfa, oats, and wheat as well as 5 kgs
of potatoes were sowed across a 160 m area in and out of
the windbreak planting plot. The annual crops except alfal-
fa, a perennial forage crop were sowed repeatedly during
the month of May for three years from 2014 to 2016.
Monitoring of windbreak effect and crop productivity
Wind directions and speeds of the study site were meas-
ured during the growth period between May-August for 4
years from 2014 to 2017. Monitoring of measuring growth
and harvest yields of income crops as well as crown open-
ings of the windbreak planting was undertaken every year
during the end of August, the end of the growth period.
The wind directions were measured daily in 1-hour inter-
vals by establishing an automatic weather observing device
(Onset Computer Corporation, Massachusetts, USA).
Windspeeds were repeatedly measured 10 times at a height
of 0.5 m, an average income crop height, in 1-hour intervals
every day using a wind gauge (TSI ALNOR, AVM430,
USA) at the windbreak planting plot and the control plot.
Windspeeds at the windbreak planting plot were measured
at leeward distances of 1H (1 times the height of the plant-
ed trees), 3H, 5H, 7H, and 9H in which the income crops
were distributed. The crown opening of the windbreak
planting was analyzed by horizontally taking photographs
of the tree crowns repeatedly 5 times, overlapping the pho-
tographs to a 0.5 cm×0.5 cm grid, and calculating the aver-
age ratio of open grid points.
Growth and harvest yields of the income crops such as
potatoes, oats, wheat, and alfalfa were measured and com-
pared at the windbreak planting plot and the control plot for
each year from 2014 to 2016. Potatoes, the belowground bi-
omass in fresh weight of 10 randomly sampled individuals

from each treatment plot was weighed to 0.01 g using an
electronic scale (AND, Electronic Balance FX-3200, USA).
The aboveground biomass in fresh weight of oats, wheat,
and alfalfa was harvested within 3 randomly selected areas
2
of 1 m for each crop species by treatment plot and meas-
ured using the electronic scale.
Exploring proper windbreak planning
Based on the results of the above monitoring process un-
dertaken for 4 years, this study explored desirable strategies
of windbreak planning to enhance the performance of agro-
forestry of combining tree planting with income crops.
Thus, practical information to implement sustainable agro-
forestry was suggested including a land-use system, tree
species and their sizes for planting, planting techniques,
and planting densities.
Results and Discussion
Weather conditions
During the monitoring of the study site from 2014 to
2017, the annual temperature of the site averaged 1.2°C, and
the average monthly temperature between the months of May
and August, the growth period of plants, ranged from 9.6°C
to 20.5°C. The study site was typically subjected to below
zero temperatures from November to March in which tem-
peratures dropped down to -40.4°C during the winter season.
On the other hand, temperatures reached up to 36.9°C dur-
ing the summer season, which indicated drastic seasonal tem-
perature differences of the study site. During the growth peri-
od, the main directions of winds were observed as northerly
and westerly and average windspeeds were measured in the
range of 1.6 m/s to 4.1 m/s. During the month of May, the in-
itial period of plant growth, strong winds recorded in the
range of 18.9 m/s to 20.9 m/s frequently occurred. Such
winds caused the uprooting of the trees planted for
windbreak. For Bulgan Aimag, the province in which the
study site was located, evapotranspiration was noted to be
high compared to an annual precipitation of 220 mm and
tended to increase by 2 mm or more each year (MOE 2008).
Effects of windbreak planting
The crown opening of the multi-layered 3-row wind-
break planting, which was composed of P. sibirica with a
Jo and Park
Fig. 3. Changes in windspeed reduction by leeward distance from wind-
break planting*. *H=tree height.
tree height of 1.5 m and H. rhamnoides with a tree height
of 1.0 m, averaged about 59% in one year after planting,
and 35% 2-3 years after planting. In other words, the crown
density of the windbreak planting of this study fell within
the 40-65% range. These crown densities of 40% and 65%
were analyzed to reduce windspeeds by 30% and 54%,
respectively. The windspeed reduction ratios at different
leeward distances from the windbreak planting 3 years after
averaged 61.4% at a distance of 1H, 58.0% at 3H, 49.8% at
5H, 44.8% at 7H, and 38.3% at 9H (Fig. 3). Thus, the
average windspeeds at leeward distances were reduced by ap-
proximately 60% within 3H, 50% at 5H, and 42% at 7-9H.
These results indicated a tendency in which windspeed re-
ductions were lessened as the distance increased. USDA
NAC (2002) and Campi et al. (2009) also reported that
windspeeds were reduced by 50-55% at distances of 5 times
the height of trees. The average tree height of the windbreak
planting in this study was 1.5 m, and the effects of windbreak
are predicted to increase as tree heights increase.
Differences in crop productivity
Table 1 presents the results of comparatively analyzing
income crop productivity at the windbreak planting plot
and the control plot. The fresh weight per sample of the po-
tatoes harvested from the windbreak planting plot from
2014 to 2016 ranged between 370-501 g depending on
their growth years, which was 4.5 to 6.8 times higher than
that of the potatoes from the control plot (p＜0.01). The
fresh weight per unit area of the oats and wheat from the
2
windbreak planting plot ranged between 509-560 g/m and
2
1,119-1,121 g/m , respectively, which was 1.2 to 1.3 times
J For Environ Sci 33(4), 348-354 351
Effects of Windbreak Planting on Crop Productivity for Agroforestry Practices in a Semi-Arid Region

Table 1. Differences in crop productivity by treatment plot*

Treatment plot
Year Income crop
Control Windbreak
Aug., 2014-2015 Potato (g/indi.) 82.1 369.8
2
Wheat (g/m ) 431.7 509.2
2
Oat (g/m ) 344.4 1,118.7
Alfalfa (g/m2) 52.7 143.9
Aug., 2016 Potato (g/indi.) 74.2 501.0
Wheat (g/m2) 440.3 560.1
Oat (g/m2) 324.2 1,120.5
Alfalfa (g/m2) 191.8 517.9
*The year was divided considering differences in crown opening
of windbreak measured.

(p＜0.05) and 3.2 to 3.5 times (p＜0.01) higher than that

of the oats and wheat from the control plot. The per unit
area fresh weight of the alfalfa from the windbreak planting
2
plot ranged between 144-518 g/m , which was 2.7 times
higher than that of the alfalfa from the control plot (p
＜0.01). Thus, the 3-row windbreak planting was found to
significantly increase the income crop productivity. Based
on studies by Kort (1988), USDA NAC (2002) and Campi
et al. (2009), the growth of income crops through a wind-
break planting produced 6-44% greater productivity de-
pending on their species compared to the control plot. The
Fig. 4. Two alternative models of windbreak planning suggested to increase
productivity through the windbreak planting of all income crop productivity in semi- arid region*. *Leeward distance and crown den-
crops except wheat in this study was much greater than the sity for about 50% windspeed reduction.
results from the studies above.
As stated above, the crown density of the windbreak plant- evident in growth environments having strong winds and
ing was approximately 40% in one year after planting and aridity. The appropriate strategies of windbreak planning
65% in 2016 two years after. Although the productivity of po- are required to achieve the multi-purpose effects of agro-
tato and alfalfa crops at the windbreak planting plot indicated forestry practices such as the prevention of desertification
a tendency to increase from 1.4 to 3.6 times as the crown den- and creation of income. Two alternative models of wind-
sity increased, the productivity of oats and wheat showed no break planning are recommended as land-use systems of
significant differences. Grey and Deneke (1986) and USDA combining trees and income crops (Fig. 4): a) border wind-
NAC (2002) reported that the appropriate crown density of break planting in which windbreak trees are planted along
windbreak planting ranged between 40-60%. However, the all four directions of the borders of an income crop; and b)
findings of this study intimate that the optimum range of alternate windbreak planting in which windbreak trees and
crown density, as one of factors affecting the productivity of income crops are planted in an alternating way. The former
income crops, could be variable with the crop species. model is recommended for application in sites in which
winds from all directions need to be controlled and the lat-
Windbreak planning for agroforestry practices
ter is suggested for application in sites in which main winds
The results from this study prove that the effects of come from a single direction.
windbreak planting on the productivity of income crops are For the tree species used for windbreak planting, it is es-

352 Journal of Forest and Environmental Science http://jofs.or.kr


sential to select a species that naturally grows in the harsh
growing environments of Mongolia, which includes P. si-
birica, Ulmus pumila, Haloxylon ammodendron, H. rha-
mnoides, Larix sibirica, Picea obovate, Salix spp. (Ulziijar-
gal 2011; Tungalag et al. 2012). Income crops should be
chosen reflecting their growth environments and demands
of local residents. As such an example, the crops selected for
sowing in this study included potatoes, wheat, oats, and
alfalfa. The distribution of income crops is recommended
to keep within leeward distances of 5 times the height of
trees to reduce windspeeds by up to 50%.
In addition, the windbreak planting must consider struc-
tural properties such as the number of planting rows, layers,
tree heights, and crown densities. This study applied the
windbreak planting in 1-2 rows having low crown density,
but its effects were found to be relatively lower. To achieve
the effects of windbreak planting and crop production in
the short term, a minimum of 3 rows of trees and shrubs
should be planted perpendicular to the direction of the main
winds, in which tall trees are placed at the center of the rows
and shrubs with a low clear-length are planted in a zig-zag
pattern to the left and right of the tall trees. The results
from Park et al. (2012) as well as this study indicated sat-
isfactory windbreak planting effects for tree heights in the
range of 0.5-1.5 m. However, the planting of relatively tall-
er trees is recommended, because increases in tree height
lengthen leeward windbreak distances. A 60% crown den-
sity of windbreak planting is appropriate to reduce wind-
speeds by approximately 50%, based on the results from
this study. Should shading from the crown growth of wind-
break trees limit the growth of income crops, trimming or
thinning practices are desirable to maintain proper growth
environments for the income crops.
Conclusion
Afforestation is an essential practice for arid and semi-arid
regions to prevent desertification, a serious environmental
problem recognized internationally. Agroforestry practices
of mixing tree planting and income crops as a sustainable
approach have recently been implemented in the regions to
increase income for locals as well as to prevent deserti-
fication. However, strong winds and aridity in the regions
limit the growth of income crops. To achieve the multi-pur-
Jo and Park
pose effects of agroforestry, appropriate strategies of wind-
break planting are required as a means of controlling such
problems. Therefore, this study undertook the multi-year
monitoring of income crop productivity associated with
windbreak planting and explored strategies of windbreak
planning to enhance the performance of agroforestry prac-
tices.
The crown density of the windbreak trees planted for this
study averaged approximately 40% in one year after plant-
ing and 65% 2-3 years after. Such crown densities were
found to result in windspeed reductions of 30% and 54%,
respectively. Average windspeed reductions at leeward dis-
tances from the windbreak planting were about 60% within
3H, 50% at 5H, and 42% at 7-9H, in which the farther the
distance the less reduction in windspeeds. The income crop
productivity at the windbreak planting plot was higher by a
minimum 1.2 times to a maximum 6.8 times depending on
the crop species, compared to that at the control plot with
no windbreak. As the crown density of the windbreak plant-
ing increased from 40% to 65%, the productivity of potato
and alfalfa crops increased significantly.
Based on the study results, desirable strategies of wind-
break planning were suggested including models of border
windbreak planting and alternate windbreak planting as
land-use systems of combining trees and income crops. The
planning strategies also contained effective leeward wind-
break distances for crop allocation, tree heights and layer
structures, and crown densities. The leeward distribution of
income crops is desirable within distances of 5 times the
height of windbreak trees to reduce windspeeds by up to
50%. To achieve the effects of the windbreak planting in the
short term, a minimum of 3 rows of trees and shrubs should
be planted perpendicular to the direction of the main winds
in a zig-zag pattern, in which the planting of taller trees is
recommended over small-sized trees. A crown density of
60% is appropriate to obtain an approximately 50% reduc-
tion of windspeeds.
This study serves as a stepping stone to find out detailed
windbreak effectiveness at leeward distances and is sig-
nificant in that a windbreak planning model including
land-use systems and planting techniques was developed,
based on repeated multi-year measurements of the wind-
break planting effects. The results from this study are appli-
cable not only at the study site but also in other regions
J For Environ Sci 33(4), 348-354 353
Effects of Windbreak Planting on Crop Productivity for Agroforestry Practices in a Semi-Arid Region
worldwide where strong winds and aridity are problematic
in practicing agroforestry. The study results need further
comparative verification in the future by conducting di-
versified studies on windbreak planting in other regions
having disadvantageous growth environments.
Acknowledgements
This study was carried out with the support of ‘R&D
Program for Forest Science Technology (Project No.
2012021D10-1718-AA03)’ provided by Korea Forest
Service (Korea Forestry Promotion Institute). The authors
thank Dr. Akhmadi Khaulenbek with Institute of Geogra-
phy & Geoecology (Desertification Research Center),
Mongolia Academy of Sciences for his lavish help in plant-
ing trees and sowing income crops.
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