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Title: ESTIMATES OF HERBAGE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF BLACK LOCUST IN SOUTHEASTERN USA

Author
item UNRUH-SNYDER, L - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item MUELLER, J - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item LUGINBUHL, J - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item Turner, Kenneth
item FOUTS, W - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item BROWNIE, C - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/23/2003
Publication Date: 11/5/2003
Citation: Unruh-Snyder, L.J., Mueller, J.P., Luginbuhl, J.M., Turner, K.E., Fouts, W.B., Brownie, C. 2003. Estimates of herbage production and quality of black locust in Southeastern USA. In: Annual Meetings Abstracts, [CD-ROM], Paper Number C06-unruh-snyder879586-poster. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Demand for goat meat in the southeastern USA is steadily increasing as a result of growing ethnic communities. By including trees within a pasture system, one can take advantage of the goats' preference for browse. A field study was conducted in NC to predict herbage biomass (HM) of black locust (BL) and to estimate quality with growing degree days (GDD). The following variables were correlated with HM through regression analysis: canopy height; canopy width; average number of primary branches; average primary branch diameter sum (APBD); above-ground woody biomass; and root collar diameter. The following were correlated with GDD: crude protein (CP); in vitro true dry matter disappearance; neutral detergent fiber (NDF); acid detergent fiber (ADF); hemicellulose; cellulose, lignin; total phenolics; condensed tannins (CT); and hydrolyzable tannins (HT). The mean biomass was 2,413 kg/ha with herbage quality averaging 25% CP, 38% NDF, and 21% ADF. The recommended equation to predict HM is: HM, g/tree = 28.2 + 6.1 (APBD mm), (R2 = .79). The linear relationship between the quality variables ranged from (R2 .91 to .79) and for tannins [R2 values were .38 (CT), .21 (HT), and .23 (TP)]. Overall, BL provides ample biomass each growing season and the predictor equations are useful tools for silvopastoral management of browse species such as BL.