GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE TECHNIQUE CULTIVATION OF LIVING FENCES

GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE TECHNIQUE

Technique:

CULTIVATION OF LIVING FENCES

Definition characters description and diffusion

The conscious cultivation of specialized plant species to form living fences for various applications.

General characters description and diffusion

Different cultures around the world have developed techniques of using living fences for various purposes. Specialized species of trees and other plants are planted in an organized fashion and maintained in a manner specialized for the application. Living fences have provided cultures with sustainable methods of floodplain management, erosion control, soil fertilization, and permaculture ecosystem development, in addition to basic use as a barrier. Please see "local applications" for information regarding the variety of methodologies employed under the umbrella term "living fences".

Advantages and sustainability

Floodplain management -- Living fence-rows using trees and woven brush prevent erosion of arable land along floodplain, while also helping to capture floodwater sediment to fertilize fields. Field protection -- Living fences can provide effective long-term barriers to protect agricultural fields. Various methods of fence cultivation can be used to create effective long-term barriers around fields or simply demarcate property lines. Field fertilization and permaculture development -- The judicious use of certain plant species contributes to the creation of permaculture ecosystems within and around agricultural fields. Living fences can fixate nitrogen in soil (leguminates), produce mulch, food, and fodder, provide habitat for edible or agriculturally beneficial species, and improve water infiltration in soil. SOURCES: 1) Nabhan, Gary Paul, and Thomas Edward Sheridan. "Living Fencerows of the Rio San Miguel, Sonora, Mexico: Traditional Technology for Floodplain Management." Human Ecology Hum Ecol 5.2 (1977): 97-111. JSTOR . Web. 8 July 2015 2) Budowski, Gerardo, and Ricardo O. Russo. "Live Fence Posts in Costa Rica." Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 3.2 (1993): 65-87. Scribd. Web. 8 July 2015. 3) Johnson, Jolene K. Hohokam Ecology: The Ancient Desert People and Their Environment. Washington, D.C.?: National Park Service, 1997. Print.