Sustainable Agroforestry Practices in the Southeastern United States: Training Handbook
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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. A silvopasture 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 Agroforestry Research 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 1 SILVOPASTURE 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 i 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 ................................................................................................................................