Towards smart management of understory vegetation strips in temperate alley cropping systems

Agroforestry systems and especially alley cropping in temperate regions, are widely recognised as multifunctional land-use systems. In addition, understory vegetation strips (UVS), as a key structural component of agroforestry systems, strongly influence ecological processes, crop performance and management requirements. Despite the various environmental benefits of UVS, they can provide habitat for pests, pathogens and weeds. Managing UVS is challenging due to several factors, including suitable mechanization, different management strategies, physical and geomorphological complexity and labour demands. Therefore, this short communication addresses current knowledge on the ecological functions, risks and management challenges associated with UVS in alley cropping systems. Automated methods, such as field robots equipped with vision systems, offer opportunities to optimise management strategies and strike a balance between biodiversity conservation and agricultural productivity. Thus, smart management of UVS has the potential to act as a critical factor for improving the feasibility, efficiency and broader adoption of agroforestry systems in temperate agricultural landscapes.