ARS | Publication request: ALLEY WIDTH AFFECTS FORAGE PRODUCTION OF A LOBLOLLY PINE SILVOPASTURE

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 10, 2000
Publication Date: January 31, 2000
Citation: BURNER, D.M., BRAUER, D.K. 2000. ALLEY WIDTH AFFECTS FORAGE PRODUCTION OF A LOBLOLLY PINE SILVOPASTURE. SOUTHERN BRANCH OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. 28:4.

Technical Abstract: The productivity of a silvopastoral system depends, in part, on the spatial arrangement of tree and forage components. Extensively managed forage from eight silvopastoral designs (open, and 2.4 to 14.6 m alleys) of 6-yr-old loblolly pine was analyzed for yield, quality (composite sample), and botanical composition (tall fescue, other grasses, forbs, and pine needles). The experiment was an RCB design with 2 yr, three replicates, and 2 harvests per yr. Yields were lowest in 2.4 m alleys, increased in 3.7 to 4.9 m alleys, and differed little among the other alleys. The proportion of tall fescue was 24 percent in spring, but only 1 percent in fall. Most forage (70 percent) consisted of other grasses, mainly Panicum, Setaria spp., and Cynodon dactylon. Forbs averaged 9 percent of yield. Pine needles were 44 percent of yield of 2.4 m alleys in fall. Crude protein tended to decrease between 2.4 and 9.7 m alleys. The 4.9 m alleys were considered minimally optimum for forage yield. Results of this study will further our understanding of forage production constraints in agroforestry systems.