| Tree Based Intercropping (TBI) integrates the use of crops and trees on the same land unit. Such systems can provide a variety of economic, environmental and social benefits in comparison with mono-cropping agriculture system. The specific objectives of this thesis were to determine the productivity, profitability, and practicality of TBI systems relative to mono-cropping system in Canada. Predicting the productivity, profitability and practicality consisted of several steps. First of all, a comprehensive process-based mathematical model called Ecosys(c) were used to estimate the trees growth. Secondly, a economic analysis model (Farm-SAFE) was used to determine the profitability and feasibility of TBI system relative to mono-cropping system.;The evaluation of mono-cropping and TBI systems was undertaken for selected tree and crop species. Selected tree species were hybrid poplar, Norway spruce and red oak and crops species were wheat, corn, soybean and barley. The results of this study suggested that TBI systems can under certain circumstances provide a productive, profitable and feasible alternative to mono-cropping system. Tree and crop production was invariably more efficient in the use of land when combined in TBI systems hybrid poplar than when separated in mono-cropping system. Farmers can use a combination of fast-growing specie (hybrid poplar) and slow-growing specie (red oak) simultaneously to increase their profit by using TBI agriculture system. |
