1. Windbreak Technology Provided by: John Harrington joharrin@nmsu.edu Mora Research Center New Mexico State University

2. General Benefits of Windbreaks Wind Direction

3. Windbreak Design

4. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

5. Windbreaks Alter Microclimate Obstruction Filtration GuidanceDeflection

6. Windbreaks reduce wind speed Distance (h) Wind speed (m/h) Excellent ProtectionFair Protection Minimum Protection

7. Windbreaks alter windspeed- Caborn 1957 Dense composition Loose Composition Wind Flow through Windbreaks

8. Windbreaks- Geiger 1950 Very Dense Dense Loose

9. Windbreaks Trap Snow Distance (m) Snow Depth (m) 1.5 m spacing4.5 m spacing

10. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

11. Windbreaks Alter Microclimate 10X the tree height

12. Windbreaks reduce heating costs Distance (h) Reduction (%)

13. Windbreak placement can affect solar heating

14. Sound Attenuation / U rban Forestry 1988

15. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

16. Plant strips control wind erosion Width of Plant Strips (m)

17. Crop residue reduces wind erosion Crop Residue (kg/ha) Soil Erosion (kg/ha)

18. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

19. Windbreaks increase crop yield Crop Alfalfa Millet Barley Winter wheat Hay Rye Corn Spring wheat Oats Yield increase 99% 44% 25% 23% 20% 19% 12% 8% 6%

20. Windbreaks increase crop yield Distance (h) Yield (% of normal)

21. Windbreaks compete with crop yield Distance (h) Oats fresh weight (g/m 2 )

22. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

23. Critical Windchill Factors for Livestock Temperature ( o F) Windspeed (mph) Windchill ( o F) Danger Zone

24. Windbreaks protect livestock Cows in good condition: 10 o ↓ →↑ 13% energy requirements Cows on poor condition: 10 o ↓ →↑ 30% energy requirements

25. Milk production is a function of temperature Temperature ( o F) Milk Production (#/d)

26. Feed to produce hogs (no hair) is a function of temperature Temperature ( o F) Feed Amount (#)

27. Windbreak Benefits Climate amelioration Home protection Soil protection Crop production Livestock protection Wildlife habitat

28. Wildlife Habitat/ U.Mass. CES 1993

29. Windbreaks provide wildlife habitat Benefits: Amenity Recreation Hunting User Fees Non-migrating bird species

30. Windbreaks--Conclusions Decrease home heating/cooling Decrease wind-induced soil erosion Increase crop yield (reduced water stress) Increase feed efficiency for livestock –Meat –Milk Improved wildlife habitat