Alley cropping opportunities and research priorities in orchard systems: A case study in northern California

Abstract

Alley cropping is the production of annual and perennial cash crops between orchard trees. Despite its documented benefits, adoption of alley cropping in California remains limited. This paper describes a long‐term commercial alley cropping system in northern California and identifies research areas that can support this practice. The system is based on more than 40 years of dry bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) production in alleyways of young almond and walnut orchards near Durham, CA. The grower plants dry bean from mid‐May through early July in approximately 4.5‐m (15‐ft) wide strips within orchard alleys and irrigates using the existing sprinkler system. Irrigation scheduling for alley‐cropped blocks is similar to that used for comparable orchards without alley crops. In October, bean plants are undercut, windrowed to dry, and mechanically harvested. The orchard owner provides land and irrigation water and receives 25% of gross alley crop income, while the grower manages the entire bean production for the remaining revenue. Production records from 2020 to 2024 show yields of 1.1–4.08 Mg ha ⁻¹ (993–3636 lb ac ⁻¹ ) for yellow bean and 1.65–2.53 Mg ha ⁻¹ (1471–2260 lb ac ^{− 1} ) for cranberry bean across 7.3–24.3 ha (18–60 ac), with estimated production costs of approximately $2500 ha ^{− 1} ($1000 ac ⁻¹ ). This paper further discusses research needs to understand tree and alley‐crop water interactions, increase bean biological nitrogen fixation, and evaluate additional crops compatible with existing orchard management practices.