Environmental Benefits of Hedgerows in Agriculture

During our work on the Native Plant Hedge Row, we learned the environmental benefits of using Native plants on an organic farm. Not only does the native plant row benefit the growth of the plants but it also decreases use of pesticides, provides a habitat for wildlife, conserves water, and decreases soil erosion.

Pesticide Use:

Many farms use poisons and toxic chemicals to control pest populations on their crops. These solutions can permanently damage the soils, put harmful chemicals into our food, and wipe out important insect populations.

On organic farms, farmers use plants in the Hedgerow that attract predator insects, which will kill off specific pests on the crops. The flowers that the plants seasonally bloom throughout the year attract things such as bees and wasps, which in turn kill bugs that eat the fruits of the growing crop. The hedgerow is a very environmental replacement for pesticides.

Hedgerows act as a secure habitat for many small
animal populations

Habitat for Wildlife:

When agriculture takes over large areas of land it also takes away a big chunk of habitat for the animal populations living there. Hedgerows being planted are almost a way for the farmers to give back what they have taken. The small shrub life and large Nitrogen fixing leaves provide a new home for birds, rodents, and insects that lost their habitat from the agriculture fields.

Conserving Water:

Hedgerows retain a large amount of water and reduce evaporation and desiccation by blocking dry winds in the summertime. This in turn reduces the amount of irrigation needed for the crops.

Decreasing Soil Erosion

Irrigation and water runoff can cause major soil erosion within agriculture. A hedgerow provides the perfect blockade to trap soil particles lost through runoff and act as a major absorber for excess water.