. Agri-news. Agriculture. Phone: (403) 427-2121. GO GO GO GO GO GO GOG May 25,1992 Wind protection major, but not only, shelterbelt benefit Conservation minded landowners across Alberta are proving field shelterbelts are an important asset to their farming operation. "Shelterbelts are a time proven means of conserving topsoil," says Rob Dunn, southern regional soil conservation co-ordinator. When mature, a field shelterbelt offers a number of other conservation benefits adds John Timmermans, an Airdrie based soil conservation specialist who has studied and evaluated shelterbelt use.
. Agri-news. Agriculture. Phone: (403) 427-2121. GO GO GO GO GO GO GOG May 25,1992 Wind protection major, but not only, shelterbelt benefit Conservation minded landowners across Alberta are proving field shelterbelts are an important asset to their farming operation. "Shelterbelts are a time proven means of conserving topsoil," says Rob Dunn, southern regional soil conservation co-ordinator. When mature, a field shelterbelt offers a number of other conservation benefits adds John Timmermans, an Airdrie based soil conservation specialist who has studied and evaluated shelterbelt use. "Shelterbelts create an effective barrier slowing winds to help prevent wind erosion and wind damage to crops. This same effect can improve snow trap during the winter and shelter a crop from the drying effects of winds during the summer. Brendan Casement, shelterbelt specialist with the department's Alberta Tree Nursery and Horticulture Centre, agrees. "The primary effect of a windbreak is reduction in wind speed and the resulting changes are reflected in crop growth and development, and ultimately in ; Crop yield responses are extremely variable, but yield increases have been reported in the five to 25 per cent range he adds. An efficient shelterbelt planted at right angles to the prevailing wind direction reduces wind velocity for a distance of about twice the height of the shelterbelt on the windward side and 20 times its height on the leeward. Timmermans was involved in a 1991 study of wind reduction by caragana field shelterbelts in south-central Alberta. "We found shelterbelts reduced winds perpendicular to the shelterbelt as far out in the field as 15 times the height of the shelterbelt," he says. He adds in-leaf caraganas were more effective than out-of-leaf in reducing wind velocity. Both, however, reduced wind velocity to about the same distance downwind. Timmermans was also involved in a 1990 and 1991 study of field shelterbelt effects
Size: 2105px × 1187px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookc, bookcentury1900, bookleafnumber183, booksubjectagriculture
