alley cropping

noun

agriculture
: the practice of planting annual crops between widely spaced rows of woody plants or trees
A method called alley cropping can be used in which a variety of trees are grown in rows 40 to 60 feet apart.Statesman Journal (Oregon), 29 Jan. 2010
alley crop noun
Often, trees grown as alley crops are pruned, and their cuttings are spread on annual crop rows as mulch that protects the soil and adds nutrients. Deborah A. McGrath and C. Ken Smith, in Tropical Deforestation, 2006
alley crop transitive verb
The trees and maize were "alley cropped" (planted in alternating strips), which allows fertilizing and weeding of crop rows while also retaining the benefits of intercropping. Michael J. Dover & Lee M. Talbot, Technology Review, 1 Feb. 1988

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alley cropping was in 1981

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near alley cropping

Cite this Entry

“Alley cropping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alley%20cropping. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!