Alley cropping systems are characterised by a high structural
diversity and are known to modify microclimatic parameters.
Observed benefits are a reduced wind speed, more moderate
temperatures, due to lower radiation intensities, and an
improved water regime (buffering of snow or rainfall, higher
precipitation, higher air and soil moisture, and reduced
evaporation losses from the soil surface, etc.). These modifications
resultantly have a bearing on the crop yield and yield
stability. Diverse studies carried out within temperate regions
have shown that the microclimatic changes in alley cropping
can have benefits for cultivated agricultural crops. Generally,
the intensity of microclimatic, as well as competitive effects of
hedgerows within alley cropping systems in terms of the total