Relationship of Three-Dimensional Structure to Shelterbelt Function: A Theoretical Hypothesis

Shelterbelts or windbreaks are widely used to provide numerous benefits to agricultural producers, home-owners, and society (Brandle et al., 2000). In the sheltered zone, they reduce windspeed and alter the microclimate. From an agricultural perspective, they reduce wind erosion and increase crop yield and quality, resulting in improved economic return. Shelterbelts can be used to manage snow, distributing it across a crop field or storing it in a narrow drift. They provide protection for homes, reducing energy demands for heating or cooling and provide islands of habitat for numerous types of wildlife in an area otherwise dominated by agricultural crops (Johnson and Beck, 1988).