Mississippi State University succeeds with pine agroforestry
Posted by agrofore on 20 July 2009 • Categorized as N.America
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is growing loblolly and shortleaf pine in rows with with either clover or soybeans, corn, milo or switchgrass in the alleys between trees. The trees are planted in either two rows or four rows with a 40-foot alley between sets of trees. Data shows that agroforestry plantings are more profitable over time than a regular forest plantation because with the crops grown in the alleys, you are making more money in between timber harvests than you would just by thinning the trees. Other benefits of agroforestry systems include reduced runoff and erosion, improved water quality and nutrient cycling. These benefits can make the system more profitable by lowering inputs such as fertilizer into the system, increasing revenues from hunting leases and lowering environmental impacts.
Foresters are however worried about the quality of the timber and recognise that the challenge for agroforestry (with pines at least) is not producing the maximum volume but producing good-quality timber.
More information is available here and here.
Photo: Sarah W. Workman and Samuel C. Allen
The Mississippi State UniversityExtension Service is growing loblolly and shortleaf pine in rows with with either clover or soybeans, corn, milo or switchgrass in the alleys between trees. El Estado de Mississippi UniversityExtension El servicio es cada vez mayor loblolly y shortleaf de pino en las filas con el trébol o bien con la soja, maíz, switchgrass milo o en los callejones entre los árboles. The trees are planted in either two rows or four rows with a 40-foot alley between sets of trees. Los árboles se plantan en filas o dos o cuatro filas con un pasillo de 40 pies entre los conjuntos de árboles. Data shows that agroforestry plantings are more profitable over time than a regular forest plantation because with the crops grown in the alleys, you are making more money in between timber harvests than you would just by thinning the trees. Los datos muestran que las plantaciones agroforestales son más rentables en el tiempo que una plantación forestal, ya que con los cultivos en los callejones, que está ganando más dinero en las cosechas de madera entre los que sólo por el raleo de árboles. Other benefits of agroforestry systems include reduced runoff and erosion, improved water quality and nutrient cycling. Otros beneficios de los sistemas agroforestales, la reducción de la escorrentía y la erosión, la mejora de la calidad del agua y el ciclo de nutrientes. These benefits can make the system more profitable by lowering inputs such as fertilizer into the system, increasing revenues from hunting leases and lowering environmental impacts. Estos beneficios pueden hacer el sistema más rentable por la reducción de insumos como fertilizantes en el sistema, aumentar los ingresos de arrendamiento de la caza y la reducción de los impactos ambientales.
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