Living off The Hedges

When you think of hedgerows, you may envision cute little hedgehogs scampering around hedgerows in the English countryside. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defined a hedgerow “as a row of shrubs or trees enclosing or surrounding fields.” The dictionary also defined a hedge as “a row of shrubs or small trees that are planted close to each other in order to form a boundary.”

Since hedges and hedgerows have such similar meanings, this article uses the words interchangeably. In addition to hedgerows scattered throughout the developed world, hedges are also found in the developing world, where they provide valuable agricultural services.

Hedges can ameliorate some of the difficulties that farmers face in the developing world. However, some areas of concerns must be addressed.

For example, in order to ensure successful introductions of hedgerows, farmers must adopt species that can thrive in their specific growing region. Hedge plants must be adapted to local weather patterns such as long periods of either excessive rainfall or droughts.

The chemical composition of the soil also limits which species can survive. The pH of soil (how acidic or alkaline the soil is), the salinity (how much salt is in the soil), type of soil (sand, clay, etc.), and the quantity and quality of organic matter in the soil are also crucial considerations when choosing plant species. Furthermore, the cost of establishing and maintaining hedges is a limiting factor. Also, farmers need to feel that hedges provide a valuable service in order to justify the cost and the time involved in their creation and maintenance.

One benefit of hedgerows is that growing crops between hedges in alley cropping can increase the productivity of farmland. According to D. E. Iyamabo, Director of the Federal Department of Forest Research of Nigeria, “Alley farming involves growing perennial trees in systematic rows, and the production of arable crops between these rows; in essence, growing trees and food crops on the same piece of land.”

Alley cropping can also increase the financial stability of farmers. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, “the incentive for intercropping is essentially economic, since this system not only provides higher gross return per hectare but also plays an important role as an insurance risk against total crop loss.”

Alley cropping is valuable asset wherever it is found. However, this agricultural technique particularly plays an important role in preserving rainforests, where it can help replace shifting agriculture.

The Rain Forest Saver Foundation is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is committed to protecting rainforests. The organization reported that “Slash and burn farming is a form of shifting agriculture where the natural vegetation is cut down and burned as a method of clearing the land for cultivation, and then, when the plot becomes infertile, the farmer moves to a new fresh plot and does the same again. … Estimates suggest some 250 million farmers are forced to eke out a living like this on poor rainforest soils.”

In addition, Mongabay, a non-profit science and conservation news organization, reported that “shifting agriculture accounts for 24% of forest loss worldwide, but over 90% in Africa.” Thus, worldwide, shifting agriculture causes a vast amount of ecological damage.

Alley cropping is a more sustainable alternative to shifting agriculture. The Rain Forest Saver Foundation reported that alley cropping “increases yields and maintains the plot’s fertility long term, thus eliminating the need for the continual burning of the rainforest to get new fertile plots.”

The Foundation promotes Inga alley farming and reports that “Inga alley cropping is a sustainable alternative to slash and burn farming. The Inga [genus] are legumes that fix nitrogen and recycle phosphorus. Inga trees are planted in rows with spaces (alleys) between them.

Once grown, the trees cut off light in the alleys which suppresses weeds. The farmer can then prune the trees.” The resulting biomass can be used for green manure, mulching material, and firewood.

According to the book, The Genus Inga Utilization, “Inga trees are used for their fruits throughout their geographical range from Mexico to Uruguay. … Inga is also widely used today as fuelwood because of its rapid growth and ability to withstand repeated coppicing.”

Hedges also help farmers adapt to arid conditions, drought, and desertification. According to an article in the Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, desertification affects about one-fifth of the global population.

Fortunately, there are many plants which are adapted to dry arid conditions. For example, pigeon peas can be raised in the alleys between hedges.

According to the book, Cultivating Pigeon Peas: A Comprehensive Guide for Smallholder Farmers, “Pigeon peas are a remarkable legume that has been cultivated for thousands of years across tropical and subtropical regions. … Pigeon peas are grown in more than 50 countries worldwide, with India, East Africa, and the Caribbean being among the largest producers. … They can be grown in arid and semi-arid areas. … The deep roots of pigeon peas stabilize soils, reducing runoff and conserving water. … [Pigeon peas] adapt to drought and flooding. … They are very hardy and can be grown in both acidic and alkaline soils. … Pigeon peas convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants. …By lowering the need for nitrogen-based synthetic fertilizers, pigeon peas help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. … They are also a good fodder for livestock, who can eat the leaves, stems, and pods. They are a very healthy [for humans] and are a source of protein, fiber, and various nutrients. … Regular consumption of pigeon peas reduces the prevalence of anemia and undernutrition. … Cooked pigeon peas are a staple in curries, stews, and soups in many regions, such as dal in South Asia or stewed beans in Africa. … Pigeon pea flour can be used in baking bread, pancakes, or porridge, offering a gluten-free alternative.”

Coconut trees also contribute nutrients to the diet and are an important part of agriculture in the developing world. Cattle can be grazed in the spaces surrounding coconut trees. This farming method increases the availability of local milk and meat, manure which increases soil fertility, and farm income.

The FAO reported that globally, coconut palms are grown on almost eleven million hectares of land. This equals approximately 42,471 square miles. According to Agriculture Notes published by the Agriculture Institute, coconut trees are planted with wide spaces between them which means that at any given time, roughly 75% of the land in a coconut plantation goes unused by the main crop, which is then available for other agricultural purposes.

Since harvesting coconuts is not a full time occupation, a labor supply to manage cattle already exists. The FAO reported that worldwide, there are more than ten million farm families, involving approximately fifty million people, directly involved in coconut cultivation. The FAO also added that cattle grazed under coconuts benefit from the shade produced by coconut trees, as the cooler air under the trees is less stressful for the health of cattle.

Raising other crops next to coconuts can even increase coconut yields. The FAO publication stated that “According to Kunhikrishnan [Anitha Kunhikrishnan, soil scientist], interplanting coconuts with fodder crops such as Napier grass for milk animals, not only gave two crops instead of one, but the coconut palms also showed a 5 percent increase in yield.

At Kayangulam [located in Kerala, India], the growing of hybrid Napier, Stylo, [a legume], Puero [a legume], and Centro [another legume] under coconuts for cutting and feeding to milk cows increased coconut yield by 23 percent within three years, largely because of the effects of manuring.”

Many other trees and plants that could be grown in alley cropping are very nutritious. These crops would reduce the pressure on old forests to provide food for a large population.

The FAO estimated that from one billion to 1.7 billion people depend to various degrees on forests and trees outside forests for their food security and nutrition.

The book, Edible Leaves of the Tropics, reported that over 1,500 plant species produce edible leaves. Many of these plants function as perennial vegetables. They can be added to hedges and alley cropping to help provide the necessary nutrients needed for good health.

Additionally, some fruit trees can be grown in hedges to provide important nutrients. Some examples are various limes, mangos, and moringa.

Besides providing food, trees are a major source of fuel for cooking and heating in the developing world. Unfortunately, obtaining adequate and affordable fuelwood is difficult in the developing world. According to an article in Resources, “it is estimated that more than two billion people in developing countries rely primarily on wood and other forest products for their daily cooking and heating needs.”

It is extremely time consuming to gather fuelwood. The World Economic Forum reported that gathering fuelwood and other biomass used for cooking can take up to twenty hours or more a week and can involve carrying loads weighing fifty pounds or more, often in unsafe settings.

The article also reported that women and girls do most fuelwood gathering, and a minimal estimate is that at least 300 million women and girls perform this chore. An article in Energy for Sustainable Development further stated that women in Africa spend 3.5 to 8 hours a day collecting firewood for cooking.

The World Health Organization reported that girls spend an average of eighteen hours weekly gathering fuel. This takes time away from obtaining an education. Thus, it is fortunate that fuelwood can be harvested from the trees and bushes that are grown in hedges.

In addition to saving a lot of time and effort, obtaining fuelwood from hedges can help prevent deforestation.

However, if hedges are cut down for fuelwood, the environmental benefits of hedges, such as preventing soil erosion and increasing biodiversity, are eliminated. This could be prevented by only cutting down the tops of trees and bushes in the hedges, thus allowing them to regrow to provide a continuous supply of fuelwood.

Even though most hedges in the developing world consist of trees and shrubs, other types of vegetation are also used. For example, vetiver grass hedges are valuable in areas where soil erosion is a major environmental problem.

A 1993 study from the US National Academy of Sciences found that vetiver hedges are a cheap, safe, and an effective method to slow erosion and retain moisture.

The Vetiver Network International reported that vetiver protects soils, regulates water, and buffers farms and infrastructure against increasingly erratic climate extremes. … “Vetiver’s deep root system, up to 5 meters, [approximately 16.4 feet] sequesters carbon effectively, contributing to climate mitigation goals. … Its deep, vertical roots stabilize land during intense rainfall, its hedgerows slow runoff and enhance groundwater recharge enduring drought, and its tolerance to heat, flooding, salinity, and prolonged dry periods ensures dependable performance.”

Vetiver can be used in the developing world to help cope with extremely high temperatures. A cheap and ecological way of cooling is based on the breeze from open windows flowing through wet vetiver mats.

Vetiver has been used historically in indigenous medical practice. According to an article in Biomolecules, vetiver “has been an integral component of traditional medicinal systems across India and Asia for centuries. The roots and essential oils of this aromatic grass have been widely utilized for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. … The pharmacological potential of C. zizanioides [vetiver] has been extensively explored, validating its traditional ethnomedical applications through modern scientific investigations.”

Fortunately, vetiver grows extremely fast. According to the book, Vetiver Grass—A Thin Green Line Against Erosion, the plants often reach 2 meters [approximately 6.56 feet] after just a few months.

Vetiver hedges can even provide a safe, cheap herbicide. According to the book, The Vetiver System For Agriculture, “When spread evenly on the ground, whole or desiccated vetiver leaves form a thick matt that suppresses weeds.” Using this natural form of herbicide is a good practice because chemical herbicides are too expensive for most farmers in the developing world. Also, fossil fuels are used when producing herbicides, and this contributes to climate change.

Another benefit of vetiver is that it can be grown in any area that remains warm enough throughout the year. According to a map in The Vetiver System for Soil and Water Conservation, it is grown in Africa, Asia, Australia, parts of the southern United States, Central and South America.

Unfortunately, a report of this size can only cover a small number of the plants that can be grown in hedges and alley cropping. However, even a small review of hedgerows reveals their benefits for the environment. Hedges help save valuable forest lands by providing fuelwood and food products.

Hedgerow vegetation can also improve soil quality which then improves the health of agricultural crops. Hedges and alley cropping that include edible plants can provide important nutrients. This minimizes the cost of purchasing food which helps to mitigate poverty.

Establishing and maintaining hedges is low-tech and uses less fossil fuels than industrial agriculture. Vegetation in hedgerows also helps to prevent and prevent climate change as the trees and other plants store carbon.

Thus, including hedges in agricultural systems improves the lives of people in the developing world as well as their environment.

Lenore Hitchler