Multivariate characterisation of a blackberry-alder agroforestry system in South Africa: Hydrological, pedological, dendrological and meteorological measurements

Abstract. Trees established in linear formations can be utilised as windbreak structures on farms as a form of agroforestry system. We present an extensive data package collected from an active berry farm located near Stellenbosch, South Africa considering hydrological, pedological, dendrological and meteorological measurements centred around an Italian alder (Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby) windbreak and a blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L. Var. 'Waldo') crop. Data was collected between September 2019 and June 2021. The data is available from Hassler et al. (2023) and includes: solar radiation, precipitation characteristics, vapour pressure deficit, air temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, gust speed, lightning strikes and distance recorded at 10 minute intervals; soil moisture and matric potential in two profiles at 15 minute intervals alongside soil samples at various depths describing soil texture, hydraulic conductivity and water retention parameters; a soil profile description accompanied by 60 topsoil samples describing carbon and nitrogen and exchangeable base cation concentrations as well as potential cation exchange capacity and descriptions of soil texture; dendrological measurements present point cloud data for the study windbreak trees and surrounding features alongside cylinder models of the windbreak trees with volume and biomass data, foliage data as a product of an existing leaf creation algorithm is also given. The provided data is intended to explore the interaction between trees and crops in agroforestry landscapes.