Project Number: 6227-21660-003-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 24, 2008
End Date: Sep 30, 2009

Objective:
Objectives are: 1. Optimize complementary interactions among over- and understory components; 2. Increase the functionality of hardwood floodplains; 3. Improve the environmental benefits of agroforestry; 4. Assess the socio-economic and market factors that affect agroforestry adoption; and 5. Develop knowledge, technologies, and plant germplasm that permit the sustainable integration of wood fiber, forage, and livestock into temperate silvopasture practices that improve farm profitability and optimize environmental benefits. Subobjective 5.A. Develop knowledge regarding management practices that optimize the proportion of a landscape/farm in temperate pastures and silvopastures to maximize environmental and economic returns. Subobjective 5.B. Develop knowledge and management practices to convert under-utilized woodlots into productive silvopastures.

Approach:
Experiments on the effects of tree spacing and orientation on forage production in hardwood and pine stands will be conducted to determine configurations for maximum forage and wood production. Forage species and varieties that persist under shade will be identified. Black walnut, chestnut, and pecan genotypes will be evaluated for nut and wood production. Management practices to optimize gourmet mushroom and other specialty crops in forest farming practices will be evaluated. Ability of trees and buffers to reduce off-site environmental impacts will be assessed in field experiments to determine impact of trees run-off and subsurface water quality and volume. Efforts of this research will contribute to GRACEnet by assessing the impact of agroforestry practices in soil C sequestration and plant C accumulation in the tree component. Management practices will be evaluated that optimize the proportion of a landscape/farm in temperate pastures and silvopastures to maximize environmental and economic returns. Potential bioenergy feedstocks will be examined for their suitability to integration in mid-South pasture and silvopasture systems.