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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159270
Title: COOL SEASON FORAGE PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIVE VALUE IN TEMPERATE SILVOPASTURES

Author
item BUERGLER, A - VIRGINIA TECH
item FIKE, J - VIRGINIA TECH
item BURGER, J - VIRGINIA TECH
item MCKENNA, J - VIRGINIA TECH
item Feldhake, Charles

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2003
Publication Date: 12/1/2003
Citation: Buergler, A.L., Fike, J.H., Burger, J.A., Mckenna, J.R., Feldhake, C.M. 2003. Cool season forage production and nutritive value in temperate silvopastures. In Annual Meeting Abstracts (CD-ROM). ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Incorporating trees into pasture may benefit forage production and nutritive value. In 1995, black walnut (BW) and honey locust (HL) trees were planted within plots (r=3) of predominantly tall fescue pasture. In each plot, four rows of each tree species were planted down a 12% slope with spacings of 1.8, 3.7, and 14.6 m within rows and 3.7, 7.3, and 14.6 m between rows. Spacings created low, medium, and high shade at shoulder, mid, and toe slope positions. Forage sampling sites (n=54) under tree species, shading, and slope combinations were harvested May to November 2002 at 35-d intervals. Seasonal yields for low, medium, and high shade were 4500, 5200, and 4300 kg/ha with greater (P=0.01) production under medium shade. Yields under BW were 22% greater (P=0.073) than under HL (5100 vs. 4200 kg/ha). NDF was reduced (P=0.01) by medium or high shade compared to low shade (50.7 vs. 48.9 g/kg). NDF was greater (P=0.02) at mid and shoulder than toe slope positions (51.0 vs. 47.5 g/kg). ADF under HL were greater (P=0.04) than under BW (26.1 vs. 25.1 g/kg). ADF was greater in high shade under HL than under BW trees (26.5 vs. 24.9 g/kg; species by shade interaction, P=0.05). ADF at toe slopes was lower (P=0.03) than at mid or shoulder slopes (24.7 vs. 26.1 g/kg). Integrating trees into pasture is an effective management tool to increase total system productivity in temperate Appalachia.