Plant Sciences Commons^™

Adaptability Of Tree Species As Windbreaks For Urban Farms In The U.S. Intermountain West, Sheriden M. Hansen, Jaydee Gunnell, Anthony Whaley, Xin Dai, Cole Harding, Brent L. Black

Extension Research

Windbreaks or shelterbelts are a management tool to protect crops from damaging horizontal wind flow, and may provide a useful buffer between farmland and urbanized areas by reducing pesticide drift, dust, and noise associated with farming activities. Plant selection for windbreaks in the Intermountain West can be difficult as high elevation coupled with extreme temperatures, high pH soils, and limited access to water are common. This study assessed eight tree species for suitability as a windbreak in the Intermountain West, with a particular focus on initial establishment and use at the urban–agriculture interface. Species were assessed for mortality, size, canopy …