Competition for Light Affects Alfalfa Biomass Production More Than Its Nutritive Value in an Olive-Based Alley-Cropping System

Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under canopy of olive should diversify farm production, compared to traditional fallow management. Among legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany orchard test competition light effects production nutritive value. Light availability tree measured hemispherical photos. In both years, yield under-canopy varied according presence. A significant relationship between recorded. The value similar that open-grown alfalfa. However, same differences did however occur, shaded sole crop. When were found, herbage characterised higher content crude protein lower fibre respect open-grown. hilly silvoarable orchard, accumulation reduced mainly due scarce availability, therefore management pruning plantation layout can enhance productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage order agroforestry systems essential.