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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145951
Title: PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS OF SILVOPASTORAL PRACTICES WITH NATIVE PECAN

Author
item Ares, Adrian
item REID, WILLIAM - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item Brauer, David

Submitted to: National Convention of the Society of American Foresters
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2002
Publication Date: 10/25/2002
Citation: Ares, A., Reid, W., Brauer, D.K. 2002. Production and economics of silvopastoral practices with native pecan. Proceedings of National Convention of the Society of American Foresters. p. 341-343.

Interpretive Summary: Silvopastoral practices with native pecan (Carya illinoinensis) are a sustainable land use for southern and central regions of the United States that may increase the profitability of small farms. However, economic analyses of these systems are very limited if data exist. We examined nut, forage, and timber production as well as economics of managed pecan systems in southeastern Kansas. Economic simulations obtained with the Agroforestry Estate Model indicated that the system economic outputs are highly sensitive to pecan nut price and maximum income is generated when beef, nuts and timber are sold. These results are of interest to landowners and natural resource professionals who work with landowners because they provide an indication of the systems potential profitability.

Technical Abstract: Silvopastoral practices with native pecan (Carya illinoinesis) are a sustainable land use for southern and central regions of the United States. We examined nut, forage, and timber production as well as economics of managed pecan systems in southeastern Kansas. During 1981-2000, annual hulled nut production varied between 50 and 1600 kg/ha in stands averaging 72 years of age, and ranging in density between 35 and 74 trees/ha, with a pattern of alternate bearing. Stem diameter and stand basal area increased linearly through time but nut production was not related to stand age or tree density, suggesting that nut production reached a relative equilibrium. Merchantable timber volume ranged between 0.25 and 1.35 cubic meters/ha/yr. Forage production during 2001 ranged between 1500 and 2300 kg DM/ha, and between 2500 and 4600 kg DM/ha in 2002. In 2001 only, grass production decreased with decreasing radiation (P<0.01) measured under 0.25 to 0.83 of fraction light transmitted. The grass understory had acceptable quality with protein content between 7.3 and 12.6%. Nut sedge and fall fescue were the most abundant species in the understory. Economic simulations obtained with the Agroforestry Estate Model indicated that the system economic outputs are highly sensitive to pecan nut price. Alternate cash flows are smoothed by the inverse relation between nut price and yield.