• CouncilOfFriends@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      If only there was a very concise article to explain their test and control groups. I guess looking at the picture is good enough

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Because "In Denmark, it is common for trees, wooden fences and even plastic sheets to act as windbreaks for crops. “We thought, if we are going to do this, why not make these wind shelters produce electricity?” says Victoria.

      In other words, the solar panels aren’t taking away any crop space that wasn’t already taken for windbreaks.

      If you’re used to a giant field of wheat with no protection from wind, it’s a different equation. (With climate change, possibly a Dust Bowl waiting to happen, but that’s another story.)

        • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          I don’t think the project was aimed at Iowa or Kansas. For one thing, they’re tornado country. You’d need to be able to retract the panels into the ground like missile silos or a 007-villain’s evil lair.

    • RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Not all crops need 100% sun exposure in 100% of their growing regions.

      Many crops do better with a little bit of well placed shading to help keep temperatures/sun damage down.

      The way these panels are oriented they may also reduce wind flow over the crops which can improve water retention (but may lead to other problems if crops are over-irrigated).

      Mathematically it’s entirely possible to have better crop yield than a vast expanse of monocrops devoid of shelter.

    • frezik@midwest.social
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      2 months ago

      Plants don’t necessarily need as much sunlight as they get. More tends to be wasted and drys them out (thus wasting water). Growing in shade is actually better for many types of plants.