Forage Production and Nutritive Value in a Temperate Appalachian Silvopasture

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dc.contributor.authorBuergler, Alicia Lenoreen
dc.contributor.committeechairFike, John H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFeldhake, Charles M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberTeutsch, Christopher D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcKenna, James R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBurger, James A.en
dc.contributor.departmentCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-06T16:01:32Zen
dc.date.adate2004-05-24en
dc.date.available2011-08-06T16:01:32Zen
dc.date.issued2004-04-28en
dc.date.rdate2004-05-24en
dc.date.sdate2004-05-19en
dc.description.abstractIntegrating trees into pasture may be an effective management tool to improve water, nutrient, and light allocation and increase total system productivity in Appalachia. We tested this hypothesis in a silvopasture near Blacksburg, VA. In 1995, black walnut and honey locust trees were planted within plots (r=3) of predominantly tall fescue pasture. Across a 12% slope, trees were planted to create treatments of low, medium, and high tree densities at shoulder, mid, and toe slope positions within plots of honey locust and black walnut. Sampling sites (n=54) under tree density and slope position combinations were harvested May to October at 35-d intervals in 2002 and 2003 for determination of yield and nutritive value characteristics. Soil surface temperature, forage canopy temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation were measured to determine forage responses to field treatments as functions of resource allocation. Tree density had the greatest effect on forage production and nutritive value. Across both years, yields were 16% greater (P=0.0006) at medium density (6130 kg/ha) compared to forage mass at low (5280 kg/ha)) and high density (4970 kg/ha, SE=130). Increasing tree density did not affect (P>0.2) ADF, CP, P, K, and Mg levels, but reduced (P<0.001) NDF and TNC, and increased (P<0.0001) ADL and Ca. Elevated soil surface and forage canopy temperatures limited forage production and nutritive value at low density, while low light levels were the limiting factor at high density. Moderating forage microclimate with appropriately spaced trees is an effective way to improve forage production in temperate pastures.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.otheretd-05192004-122234en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05192004-122234en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/9923en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartbuergler.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectSilvopastureen
dc.subjectMicroclimateen
dc.subjectTall fescueen
dc.subjectHoney locusten
dc.subjectBlack walnuten
dc.titleForage Production and Nutritive Value in a Temperate Appalachian Silvopastureen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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