A Comparison of Tree Growth in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Plantations and Silvopasture Settings in East Texas

Oswald Bp,Barton T,Farrish Kw,Kruckeberg W,Grogan J,Weng Y

doi:10.4172/2168-9776.1000209

Abstract

A desire by landowners to diversify potential income sources has resulted in an increased interest in silvopasture. This intensive land management option allows for the production of timber, livestock and/or forage on the same land base. With traditional plantation systems featuring loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) common in the western gulf coast region of the southeastern United States, comparisons of tree growth are needed to justify the use of silvopasture. This study evaluated the height, diameter and volume growth 13 years post-establishment of loblolly pine in both silvopasture and plantation spacings on a single site in east Texas. Individual trees in silvopasture plots had greater diameter and volume than those in plantation plots; however, plantation plots yielded greater volume per hectare. The greater volume per hectare was driven by the greater number of trees planted (1282 trees ha-1) in plantation plots than those planted (598 trees ha-1) in silvopasture. In silvopasture, site resources are concentrated on producing larger-diameter, sawtimber size, and theoretically, higher-value trees.

Highlights

Silvopasture, combines wider tree spacing with management for understory species such as bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) or other forage crops to combine shorter term financial returns of livestock, such as cattle, with the longer-term investment of timber production
The objective of this study was to compare the variation in growth of the height and volume of loblolly pine trees 13 years after establishment between silvopasture spacing (598 trees ha-1) and pine plantation spacing (1282 trees ha-1)
Containerized loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) seedlings were planted in single rows in both spacings

Summary

Introduction

The closed canopy of standard pine plantations significantly limits livestock forage production. Silvopasture, combines wider tree spacing with management for understory species such as bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) or other forage crops to combine shorter term financial returns of livestock, such as cattle, with the longer-term investment of timber production. The integrated silvopasture system is intensively managed to diversify economic returns from both timber and livestock production [1-5]. Silvopasture systems may be established from either an existing plantation, or more commonly, an open pasture [6]. In the western gulf coast region, research has evaluated the viability of silvopasture [2,6], seedling establishment [7], and the use of poultry litter in silvopasture systems [8]. Actual data on tree growth rates in silvopasture compared to traditional plantations is limited across the region

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