Performance of an Elderberry–Bell Pepper Agroforestry System in the Southeastern US and Insights for Farm Decision‐Making

ABSTRACT Rising global food demand has intensified agricultural practices that increase yields but often degrade soil, reduce biodiversity, and undermine long‐term sustainability. Nature‐based solutions such as agroforestry, which integrates perennial shrubs or trees with annual crops, offer pathways for sustainable intensification through income diversification, land‐use optimization, and potential ecosystem services, including pollinator presence observed during elderberry flowering. American elderberry ( Sambucus canadensis ) is a multifunctional perennial shrub, yet field‐based evidence on shrub vegetable integration and its impacts on crop performance and productivity remains limited. This study evaluated a perennial–annual agroforestry system integrating elderberry with bell pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) under field conditions. A 2‐year experiment (2024–2025) compared three varieties of bell peppers: California Wonder, Orange Sun, and Quadrato d'Asti Rosso (QDAR), grown in elderberry‐based alley cropping and conventional monocropping systems. We measured growth traits (plant height, leaf area index, stem diameter, number of branches, and number of leaves), physiological traits (chlorophyll and stomatal conductance) at multiple stages (30, 45, 60, and 75 days after transplanting, DAT). Bell pepper and elderberry fruit yields were recorded for both years. Elderberry‐based alley‐cropping systems improved several growth and physiological parameters and maintained annual crop (bell pepper) yields in the alleys compared with conventional cropping. The California Wonder and QDAR varieties outperform the Orange Sun in terms of growth and yield. The elderberry yield rose from 646 kg/ha (576 lbs/acre) in 2024 to 1625 kg/ha (1450 lbs/acre) in 2025, reflecting establishment and maturity. Mid‐season growth and physiological traits measured at 60 DAT, particularly canopy traits such as the number of leaves and LAI, were informative indicators of yield and provided insights relevant to farm‐level decision making. Overall, perennial–annual agroforestry demonstrated potential to improve sustainable intensification while generating practical insights into diversified and small to medium‐scale farming systems.