Hydrological and pedological effects of combining Italian alder and blackberries in an agroforestry windbreak system in South Africa

The Western Cape in South Africa is a water-scarce region which will likely receive less rainfall and higher air temperatures under projected climate change scenarios. The integration of trees within agricultural systems provides an effective measure for improving water retention on agricultural land. Studying an established and irrigated agroforestry system (AFS) combining alder (Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby) as a linear windbreak with a blackberry (Rubus fructicosus L.) crop, we explore the water use dynamics of the intercrop as influenced by the windbreak element by combining methods from hydrology, soil science and forestry disciplines. Our objective is to explore whether the AFS positively impacts the water balance by combining measurement campaigns to characterise the spatial variability of various key system properties with continuous monitoring.