Sustainable Agroforestry Practices in the Southeastern United States

193 Pages·2015·8.89 MB·English

1890 Agroforestry
Consortium
Cooperative Extension
Handbook for Training Field Extension
and Technical Assistance Personnel
Sustainable Agroforestry
Practices in the
Southeastern United States:
Training Handbook
October, 2015
Editor: Uma Karki, Ph.D.

Asilvopasture plot prepared for planting forages, September 2014, Atkins Agroforestry
Research and Demonstration Site, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.
A silvopasture with cool-season forages, January 2015, Atkins Agroforestry Research and
Demonstration Site, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.
Alleys prepared for planting forage seeds in a silvopasture demonstration site, September 2015,
Plantersville, AL.
Forage seeds are being planted in a silvopasture demonstration site, October 2015, Plantersville,
AL.
Sustainable Agroforestry Practices in the Southeastern United States
Goats grazing cool-season forages in the Atkins AgroforestryResearch and Demonstration Site,
April 2015, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.
Goats grazing warm-season forages in the Atkins Agroforestry Research and Demonstration Site,
July 2015, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.
PREFACE
About the Handbook
This handbook has been developed to train field-level Extension and technical assistance
personnel (hereafter field personnel), who are involved in educating and helping farmers and
landowners in the southeastern United States understand and adopt sustainable agroforestry
practices. The purpose of developing this handbook is to extensively increase the training and
educational opportunities for farmers and landowners in the southeastern United States on
sustainable agroforestry practices, and eventually enhance their income opportunities,
sustainable land management practices, and ecosystem services.
This handbook contains 11 chapters. Chapters 1 to 5 are on Silvopasture Systems. Chapter 1
introduces silvopasture introduction, Chapter 2 presents the establishment and management of
trees in silvopasture systems, and Chapter 3 discusses forage selection and establishment in
silvopasture. Chapter 4 focuses on suitable animal species and facility requirements for grazing
animals in silvopasture, and sustainable grazing management in silvopasture systems is presented
in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 presents different types, aspects, and methods of Forest Farming.
Information on different aspects of Alley Cropping is presented in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 on
Riparian Buffers discusses basic information and economics of these buffers, and possible
assistance available to develop these buffers. Chapter 9 is about Windbreaks, and includes the
basic information, usage, and designs of windbreaks. This module also presents the tentative
costs involved and possible sources of assistance to develop this system. Ecosystem Services
that can be obtained from different agroforestry practices is presented in Chapter 10. Chapter
11 discusses economic aspects of agroforestry practices in comparison to various monocultures,
such as forestry, crop farming, and pastures. All chapters include hands-on activities to be
incorporated during the training sessions. When field personnel are trained by subject matter
specialists on the content of this handbook, including the hands-on activities, these field
personnel are expected to be able to conduct similar training sessions for farmers and landowners
in their working areas by using this handbook as a guide. Field personnel can also use this
handbook as reference material to develop various fact sheets and articles to fulfill the needs of
their clientele.
Acknowledgements
The development of this handbook became possible from the funding support of Southern
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE), Professional Development Program
(PDP) grant. Experts from various institutions (Tuskegee University, Alabama A&M University,
Florida A&M University, Alcorn State University, North Carolina A&T State University,
Langston University, Tennessee State University, and the Federation of Southern
Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund) authored or co-authored different chapter(s). Short bio of
each author is presented under Authors’ List. All authors and the editor are very grateful to all
reviewers for their time and thoughtful comments on the chapters. All reviewers are presented
under the Reviewers’ list.
Uma Karki, Ph.D.
Editor
Trainees learning about medicinal plants, July 2015, Alabama A&M University Winfred Thomas
Agricultural Research Station, Hazelgreen, AL.
Trainees are taking a silvopasture site tour and engaged in group discussion, November 2014,
USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center, Greensboro, NC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1SILVOPASTURE INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
Importance of Silvopasture Systems ........................................................................................... 2
Consideration While Developing a Silvopasture System ........................................................... 5
Advantages and Challenges Associated with Silvopasture Systems .......................................... 5
Advantages .............................................................................................................................. 5
Challenges ............................................................................................................................... 6
Who Should Consider Having Silvopasture ............................................................................... 7
Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 7
References ................................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 2 ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF TREES IN SILVOPASTURE
SYSTEMS....................................................................................................................................... 9
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 9
Suitable Tree Species ................................................................................................................ 10
Suitable Acreage and Sites for Developing a Silvopasture System .......................................... 10
Different Designs of Silvopasture Systems .............................................................................. 11
Silvopasture Development Methods ......................................................................................... 12
Silvopasture Development in an Existing Pasture ................................................................ 12
Converting a Forest Plantation into Silvopasture ................................................................. 14
Converting an Existing Woodland or a Natural Forest into Silvopasture ............................ 15
Tree Management in a Silvopasture System ............................................................................. 15
Fertilizer and Lime Application ............................................................................................ 16
Pest Control ........................................................................................................................... 16
Pruning .................................................................................................................................. 17
Thinning ................................................................................................................................ 18
Prescribed Fire or Burning .................................................................................................... 18
Determining the Yield and Quality of Tree Products ............................................................... 18
Price Determination of Tree Products ...................................................................................... 19
Tree Harvest and Sale ............................................................................................................... 20
Some Estimated Costs Associated with Establishing a Silvopasture System .......................... 20
Hands-On Activities and Demonstrations ................................................................................ 22
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Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 23
References ................................................................................................................................. 24
Chapter 3 SUITABLE FORAGES AND THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IN SILVOPASTURE
SYSTEMS..................................................................................................................................... 26
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 26
Suitable Forages for Silvopasture Systems ............................................................................... 28
Important Steps to Establish Forages ........................................................................................ 31
Hands-On Activities and Demonstrations ................................................................................ 38
Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 38
References ................................................................................................................................. 39
Chapter 4 SUITABLE ANIMAL SPECIES AND FACILITY REQUIREEMENTS FOR
GRAZING IN A SILVOPASTURE SYSTEM ............................................................................ 41
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 41
Selection of Livestock Species ................................................................................................. 41
Fencing Designs ........................................................................................................................ 42
Fencing for Goats .................................................................................................................. 43
Fencing for Sheep ................................................................................................................. 47
Fencing for Cattle ................................................................................................................. 47
Fencing for Horses ................................................................................................................ 48
Fencing for Birds, Ducks, and Geese .................................................................................... 48
Fencing for Pigs .................................................................................................................... 48
Fencing to Exclude Predators and Wildlife .......................................................................... 48
Facilities for Grazing Animals .................................................................................................. 49
Shelters .................................................................................................................................. 49
Watering Facilities ................................................................................................................ 51
Corrals and Working Facilities ............................................................................................. 52
Feeders .................................................................................................................................. 53
Use of Livestock Guardian Animals ......................................................................................... 54
Parasite Management ................................................................................................................ 55
Animal Welfare Issues .............................................................................................................. 56
Hand-On Activities and Demonstrations .................................................................................. 56
Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 56
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References ................................................................................................................................. 57
Chapter 5SUSTAINABLE GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN A SILVOPASTURE SYSTEM 59
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 59
Possible Tree Damage by Grazing Animals and Mitigating Such Damage ............................. 59
Suitable Grazing Systems in a Silvopasture System ................................................................ 61
Rotational Grazing ................................................................................................................ 61
Strip grazing .......................................................................................................................... 64
Limit Grazing ........................................................................................................................ 64
Mixed-Species Grazing ......................................................................................................... 64
Forward-Creep Grazing ........................................................................................................ 64
First and Last Grazer ............................................................................................................. 65
Available Forage, Animals’ Requirements, and Stocking Rate ............................................... 65
Forage Type and Time to Begin and End Grazing ................................................................... 66
Harmful Effects of an Inappropriate Grazing/Harvesting ........................................................ 68
Grazing When Plants Are Too Young .................................................................................. 68
Grazing When Plants Are Too Mature ................................................................................. 68
Grazing Perennial Forages Before They Go Dormant .......................................................... 69
Grazing During a Drought or Adverse Weather Conditions................................................. 69
Undergrazing ......................................................................................................................... 70
Overgrazing ........................................................................................................................... 70
Preservation and Utilization of Extra Forages .......................................................................... 71
Hay Making .......................................................................................................................... 71
Silage Making ....................................................................................................................... 72
Stockpiling ............................................................................................................................ 73
Hands-On Activities and Demonstrations ................................................................................ 74
Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 74
References ................................................................................................................................. 74
Chapter 6NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS: FOREST FARMING ................................. 76
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 76
Beekeeping ................................................................................................................................ 77
Bee Basics ............................................................................................................................. 77
Getting Started ...................................................................................................................... 78
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