The first 5 figures are a series demonstrating the beneficial effects of interplanting N-fixing red alder and Douglas-fir in a temperate rain forest in SW Washington state. The U.S. Forest service planted seedlings of both trees around 1930 following a devastating wildfire. The alder-fir mixture was limited to a narrow strip intended to serve as a fire break. By the time these photos were taken (1990's) the alder had been almost entirely overtopped and replaced by the Douglas-fir, but the N contributed by the alder through the years continues to have very profound effects on promoting the growth of the Douglas-fir.

Figure 1. Aerial view showing a prominent green strip where the Douglas-fir has been interplanted with alder.

Figure 2. The arrows indicate a landscape view of the taller trees in the narrow strip (arrows) where alder was interplanted.

Figure 3. Typical view of Douglas-fir foliage from the alder interplanting zone (right) compared to foliage from an area immediately outside the interplanting.

Figure 4. General view of tree size (Douglas-fir) of stand that developed with alder interplanting.

Figure 5. General view of tree size (Douglas-fir) of stand that developed in an area immediately outside the interplanting.

Figure 6. Interplanting of Erythrina, a leguminous tree, in a coffee plantation in the central highlands of Costa Rica. The tree provides shade as well as beneficial N for the coffee crop.

This page was created for David Dalton, a faculty member in the Biology Department at Reed College.

Questions or comments? Send e-mail to: david.dalton@reed.edu
Created 31July 97. Last modified 13 Aug 97.
Copyright ©1997 David Dalton