A further pilot plot was planted by the AFaktive team on 15th April 2026. The AFaktive team offered with and support from the Dörr organic farm near Eppelborn, the first section of the agroforestry system in Saarland was planted across approximately 12.4 hectares.
Initial situation
The initial discussions with the farm managers revolved around the erosion issues affecting the site, which is situated on a slope. In the past, heavy rainfall on the field often led to surface runoff, which left noticeable traces behind. Over time, water erosion has already formed distinct gullies (see photos below). The farmers wanted to counteract this vulnerability – which is increasing due to climate change. This is precisely where the AFaktive team stepped in – with an alley cropping system that acts as a vertical barrier to water runoff.
Value chains
Two tree species are being planted across the 2.02-hectare wooded area. On 15 April, 2,800 poplars were planted, which are set to be harvested for energy wood. Fruit trees are planned for this coming autumn; these will be cider apples for the production of apple juice. Both types of tree will therefore contribute to the farm’s income. But that’s not all: certain synergies between the tree species are expected, as the poplars, which will have grown in the meantime, are expected to provide protection for the apple trees against cold or drying winds.
Agro… what?
The AFaktive team is seeing interest in agroforestry become more apparent every day. At the planting event, it wasn’t just ‘technicians’ who were present – the AFaktive team, as well as the skilled team from planting service provider Lignovis– but also other interested parties from neighbouring local authorities and farms. They were keen to see exactly how the planting process works and what agroforestry means for a given area. Thanks to the fantastic weather, there were also plenty of passers-by who stopped to watch the action from the nearby road.
For everyone who couldn’t be there in person, the planting event was filmed and videos will be available soon. So stay tuned!
A win-win situation
The planting was a great success. We are now keen to follow the development of the young agroforestry system. Ideally, the trees will not only solve or mitigate the erosion problem, but also generate sources of income for the Wackenbergerhof. The AFaktive research team is now setting out to observe the impact of the tree rows on the field’s water balance – so, in this case too… stay tuned!
