Can herbs make stronger Agroecosystems?

An Overview of Herbs 

 What is an Herb? An herb, botanically, is a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). It can also refer, culturally, to a plant or plant part used for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. 

 Gathering, cultivating, and using herbs has been an essential activity spanning cultures since ancient history. Traditional and tribal cultures have used wild and cultivated herbs for medicinal and food purposes for thousands of years. As civilizations developed, so did the knowledge of the use of herbs. The botanical study of herbs helped advance health and agriculture in support of the earliest civilizations. Early civilization’s “physician” healers included Imhotep (2667-2648 BC) in Egypt and Hippocrates (460-370 BC) in Greece, who understood the importance of plants to sustain health (A Physicians Insight to Hemp: Clinical Considerations for Botanical Medicine).  

 Herbs are mentioned in the first chapter of the Bible and throughout its text (Sanchez 2023). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60% of the world’s population relies on herbal medicine, and about 80% of the population in developing countries depends exclusively on herbs for their primary healthcare needs. (Mohd et al. 2019) 

 The US is the largest importer of herbs, with an import value of $294 million per year (16.5%) of the global imports (Buzzanell et al. 1995). Continued increases in global demand for medicinal plants, spices, and herbs provides an opportunity for traders and local farmers to include these crops in their farming operations. Yet, to be clear, the structure of global market of herbs and spices is competitive requiring attention to local markets and distribution (Ly Nguyen et al. 2019)  

My Experience with Herbs 

I started growing herbs six years ago in Redland, FL. One of the things that I love about them is how resilient they can be. Several herbs I have planted can thrive in South Florida’s hot temperatures, big storms, and windy days. Last year, for the summer, I let my garden go wild and noticed how areas that included herbs showed potential improvement to overall outcomes on the farm. I noticed that I was getting fewer weeds and a lot of bees and wondered how herbs could make stronger agroecosystems.  

Summer-grown herbs and flowers in garden beds, thriving with minimal intervention protecting the soil health and suppressing weeds naturally. Photo credit: C. Obando.

 

Herbs in Agroecosystems 

Agroecosystems are managed areas for the production of food, fuel, fiber, or medicines (Brym et al. 2023). These ecosystems include the interconnected components of agriculture and nature. Agroecosystems are dynamic across space and time, influenced by external features of the neighboring area and connected systems. Herbs can contribute to agroecosystems’ health and resilience as living mulch and companion plants. I’m sharing some insights motivated by my farming experience for how herbs can help agroecosystem soil and pest management through living mulch, companion planting, and pollinator hosts. 

 

Soil Management and Living Mulch 

Plants play a crucial role in soil management by using their root systems to anchor and feed the soil. Herbs with strong roots and other desirable growth habits can be used to conserve soil moisture, provide nutrients to the soil, and suppress weeds. Perennial herbs, which live longer than a year, are particularly effective at soil conservation due to their deep and extensive root systems. Selecting perennial herbs, like lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp.), might assist with soil erosion management while also providing an alternate crop (Kumar et al., 2022). The growth of many grass family plants is very effective due to their fibrous root system and surface coverage that helps minimize the flowing water velocity on uneven landscapes. 

 Living mulches act as intentional ground cover and help provide vital ecosystem services, such as enhancing soil health, preventing soil and nutrient erosion, weed, and pest control. A well-established living mulch grows alongside the main commodity crop without interrupting that other crop’s growth and production. For example, herbs in the alleys of fruit orchards can provide weed and nutrient management and support orchard biodiversity while producing a good amount of the herbs without negatively affecting the apple root system development (Mia et al. 2021). Many different types of living mulches are used in agroecosystems, and farmers might find reference lists of plants that grow in their region as living mulch. 

 Many agricultural products commonly grown in Costa Rica (e.g., papaya, banana, and cane sugar) benefit from living mulches. For banana plantations in Costa Rica, for example, protocols have been evaluated for the establishment of native plants of the genus Geophila as living mulch. These plants, which have a creeping growth and tolerate shade and trampling, are favored in order to prevent erosion and the emergence of some weeds. Similarly, some papaya producers in the Atlantic region of Costa Rica, allow the growth of Drimaria cordata (Cariophyllaceae), a weed known as cinquillo, as a cover to prevent erosion from heavy rains. In addition, the selection and establishment of native plants that provide shelter and alternative food to beneficial insects, both predators, and parasitoids of agricultural pests, allow for diversification of the agroecosystem and favors ecological balance  (Gomez et al., 2017). 

Perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) is well-suited to sunny areas in Florida but can also thrive in partially shaded locations like fruit or nut orchards. It grows best in various well-drained, sandy soil types. (Shahid et al.,2023) 

 

Living mulch of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) with fiber hemp and legumes supports sustainable soil management in hemp production. While legumes add essential nitrogen to the soil, fiber hemp helps create a balanced ecosystem, minimizing weeds and enhancing soil health for resilient growth. Photo credit: Moriah Williams

 

After tillage, this South Florida limestone soil shows its inert state—lacking organic matter and vitality. Tillage can strip soil of essential nutrients, emphasizing the need for more sustainable soil management practices. Photo Credit: C. Obando

 

Companion Plants and Pollinator Enhancement 

Some herbs can be used as companion plants for dual production and also to help control pests in agriculture. Companion plants can have a range of positive effects on the farming ecosystem. These effects include improving the nutrition and chemical defense of the main crop plants, repelling pests and pathogens through the emission of certain chemicals, acting as barrier plants to suppress diseases, and serving as indicator plants that help in the early detection of pests, thereby improving the cost efficiency of crop management. Additionally, companion plants can be used as trap plants to attract, divert, intercept, and retain specific insects or pathogens, thus reducing damage to the main crop: such as basil that can repel pest invertebrates when planted alongside tomato plants (Mutisya 2017).  

Herbs can also be utilized as hosts for beneficial predators and pollinators. Insectary plants attract and maintain a population of natural enemies through their nectar and pollen resources. Moreover, implementing banker plants, intentionally added to or established in a crop, can effectively control greenhouse or open-field pests (Bresch et al., 2012). Herbs can also attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for crop pollination and the overall health of the agroecosystem (Königslöw et al., 2022). Perennial flower strips are a strategy to enhance bee diversity, especially in intensive agriculture areas that can only sustain annual growth. Additionally, high-quality and long-term hedges and conservation areas should be available to provide flower and pollen sources for several specialized bee species. Herbs may also welcome beneficial predators and biocontrol that contribute to pest management. 

From dragonflies and butterflies to ladybugs and bees, herbs provide a welcoming habitat that supports biodiversity right in our gardens. Photo Credit: C. Obando

Conclusion 

 In conclusion, herbs can play a crucial role in strengthening agroecosystems. Their diverse benefits include acting as living mulch, companions, and hosts. Herbs can control soil erosion, build soil health, deter pests, and attract beneficial invertebrates. Farmers can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and promote long-term sustainability by incorporating herbs into their agroecosystems. This demonstrates the potential for herbs to contribute to agroecosystem production and resilience. They can also be profitable crops for farmers, making them valuable to any sustainable agriculture system. Using herbs for production and these additional benefits is an important example of agroecology. 

 

 

References 

 Sánchez Elsa. 2023. Herb and Spice History. https://extension.psu.edu/herb-and-spice-history 

 Block J. 2021. A Physicians Insight to Hemp: Clinical Considerations for Botanical Medicine. UF/IFAS Blogs. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/trec/2021/11/04/physicians-insight-to-hemp/ 

 Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Iqbal Ahmad. 2019 Herbal Medicine: Current Trends and Future Prospects. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978012814619400001X 

 Peter J. Buzzanell. 1997. The Spice Market in the United States: Recent Developments and Prospects.https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=fnhYu8XZ6JsC&oi=fnd&pg=PP5&dq=Buzzanell+et+al.+1995&ots=FkqJlzbKQ7&sig=L2tp1GSm2qoHqied5BQcB9RtpNI#v=onepage&q&f=false 

 Ly Nguyen, Lam T. Duong, Rao S. Mentreddy. 2019. The U.S. import demand for spices and herbs by differentiated sources, Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214786118302948 

 Herbs in the Florida Garden. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/herbs/ 

 Mary Salinas, Sydney Park Brown, and James M. Stephens 2021. Herbs and spices in the Florida Garden https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH020 

 Brym Z, Cohen H, Wooten H, Matcham E, Outerbridge D. 2023. Introducing Agroecology. Electronic Database Information Source. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG472. 

 Kumar M, Jat RK, Ravi, Ramniwas 2002. Lemongrass: A Valuable Crop for Soil Erosion Management. Agriculture and Food Magazine. Article ID: 32645. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360011629_Lemongrass_A_Valuable_Crop_for_Soil_Erosion_Management 

 Mia MJ, Furmanczyk EM, Golian J, Kwiatkowska J, Malusá E, Neri D. Living Mulch with Selected Herbs for Soil Management in Organic Apple Orchards. Horticulturae. 2021; 7(3):59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030059 

 Gómez, Robin & Lutz, González & Agüero, Renán & Vargas, Ramón & Murillo, Franklin & Ruiz, Ana. (2017). Conocimiento sobre coberturas vivas y disposición a utilizarlas por productores de varios cultivos. Agronomía Mesoamericana. 28. 489. 10.15517/ma.v28i2.23403. 

 Muhammad A. Shahid, K. Leaks, A. R. Blount, and Cheryl Mackowiak. 2023 Perennial Peanut as a Potential Living Mulch and Nitrogen Source for Citrus and Other Orchard Crops in 

Florida. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1474 

 Parolin, P., Bresch, C., Desneux, N., Brun, R., Bout, A., Boll, R., & Poncet, C. (2012). Secondary plants used in biological control: A review. International Journal of Pest Management, 58(2), 91–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2012.659229 

von Königslöw V, FornoffF, Klein AM. 2022. Pollinator enhancement in agriculture: comparing sown flower strips, hedges and sown hedge herb layers in apple orchards. Biodiversity and Conservation. 31. 433-451. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-021-02338-w 

Mutisya, Stella Nthenya 2019 Effects of Agro net cover and companion planting with basil (Ocimum basilicum l.) on whitefly (Bemisia tabaci gennadius) infestation, yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum l.) http://ir-library.egerton.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1389?show=full 

 Lourdes Mederos. 2023. Growing herbs for the first time? UF/IFAS expert offers beginners tips to getting started. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2023/04/10/growing-herbs-for-the-first-time-uf-ifas-expert-offers-beginners-tips-to-getting-started/ 

 Rebecca Elliot. 2023. The Antioxidant Power in Herbs and Spices. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/marionco/2023/08/17/the-antioxidant-power-in-herbs-and-spices/ 

 

 

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Posted: January 24, 2025


Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture
Tags: WhatisAgroecology


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