Pasture, tree and soil evolution in silvopastoral systems of Atlantic Europe

Abstract

Increased forest area and wood production is a key goal for the European Union, together with avoidance of hazards that damage forests. Galicia is a region of northwest Spain that belongs to the Atlantic biogeographic region with very high wood production, but due to climate fire has a major negative impact on forest productivity (i.e. it represents 16% of the fires of Europe). Silvopastoral systems offer the potential to enhance forest productivity as well as to obtain income from newly afforested areas in the short term. Herbaceous pasture production within such systems can be optimized through species selection and through fertilization. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effect of three types of fertilization on two sward mixtures established under Pinus radiata D. Don cover on abandoned agricultural land over an initial period of 7 years. Tree and pasture growth were enhanced with organic fertilization, tree growth rate not being limited by summer drought, and compared with mineral treatment, trees growing up on sludge treatment had around 35 and 30% more height and diameter, respectively. Acidity tendency of Galician soils was reduced with mineral treatment. Soil pH was positively affected by mineral fertilization as it was reduced in less extent in this treatment (pH 6) than in organic (pH 5.3) or no fertilization treatment (pH 5.6), as crop cation extractions were reduced. The proportion of Na and Mg in the effective CEC was higher in fertilization with dairy sludge and no fertilization plots due to better tree canopy development. The interchangeable potassium content in ryegrass sown plots was reduced when no fertilization was applied due to dicot extractions, which can explain lower tree growth than in non-fertilized cocksfoot plots. Correct tree and pasture management, using appropriate sowing mixtures and fertilization types, makes it possible to improve the productivity of both components of the silvopastoral system. Our present results indicate that it is better to use organic fertilizers in the establishment of cocksfoot or ryegrass on sandy soils for tree and pasture growth enhancement.