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Title: ESTABLISHING TREES IN AN APPALACHIAN SILVOPASTURE: RESPONSE TO SHELTERS, GRASS CONTROL, MULCH, AND FERTILIZATION

Author
item BENDFELDT, E - VIRGINIA TECH
item DOUGHERTY, M - VIRGINIA TECH
item Feldhake, Charles
item BURGER, J - VIRGINIA TECH

Submitted to: Agroforestry Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: Bendfeldt, E., Dougherty, M., Feldhake, C.M., Burger, J.A. 2001. Establishing trees in an appalachian silvopasture: response to shelters, grass control, mulch, and fertilization. Agroforestry Systems. 53:291-295.

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural production based on pasture forage provides limited income opportunities for small Appalachian farms. Converting pastures to silvopastures can diversify and increase income without compromising production of the forage base. However, there is a need for information on how to most quickly and economically establish trees in pasture and minimize the time until tree based income is realized. We tested methods for protecting trees from deer damage, from competition with established forage, and response to fertilizer. Black walnut and honeylocust trees grew best the first couple of years within plastic tubes compared to wire mesh or no protection. The tubes not only protected saplings from deer damage but enhanced growth and tree form. Suppressing forage sod with herbicide facilitated greater sapling growth than with wood chips or no suppression. Soil moisture levels were higher near saplings with suppressed forage sod. Fertilization of saplings provided no growth benefits. Annual fertilization of pasture provided adequate nutrients for optimal sapling growth. This work provides useful information on benefits, and lack of benefits, of management practices on early sapling growth in establishing silvopastures. It will benefit small farms where there is a need to intensify and diversify production in order to remain economically viable, and will contribute to maintaining rural communities.

Technical Abstract: In the spring of 1995 approximately 350 bare-root seedlings each of black walnut (Juglans nigra) and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) were planted in six randomized paddocks within a silvopastoral study area at the Agroforestry Research and Demonstration Site in Blacksburg, VA. Three seedling establishment studies were tested, including; 1) a tree protection nstudy, 2) a water retention study, and 3) a fertilization study. Seedling were planted using two different tree shelters (60 cm-tall poultry wire cage and 1.2 m-tall plastic Tubex, two water retention treatments (mulch and herbicide spray, and one fertilizer treatment. All treatments were compared to untreated controls. Tree survival, damage, and stem volume were compared for each species. Tree survival was comparable between all studies over three growing seasons. Tree establishment using poultry wore and Tubex shelters resulted in significant reduction of deer damage and significant increase in stem volume from 1996 to 1998. Tubex shelters had a pronounced positive impact on tree height and also on stem form; height of both black walnut and honeylocust was twice the height of control seedlings. Mulch and herbicide treatments for moisture contr5ol resulted in significant stem volume increases over control from 1997 to 1998. However, mulching was less effective than herbicide treatment. There was no significant tree growth response resulting from fertilization during this same period.