Project Number: 1932-31630-002-02
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Jul 01, 2000
End Date: Jun 30, 2005

Objective:
(1) Define and describe the ecological relationships between forages and trees in organic and conventional silvopastoral systems particularly the relationship between density of deciduous and coniferous trees and the production of C3 and C4 grasses, (2) develop a mechanistic model for predicting resource allocation between trees and forage understory, and (3) understand the animal response component for optimizing management of organic and conventional silvopastoral systems for Appalachia.

Approach:
Forage production, quality and seasonal availability in a simulated rotationally-grazed silvopasture will be determined as a function of complementary and competitive influences with trees. The allocation of light, water, heat, and nutrients between forages and trees will be measured across gradients of canopy cover and topography in orchardgrass plots over-planted with black walnut and honey locust trees. A similar approach will be utilized in thinned pine and oak forests with areas managed for either C3 or C4 grasses as the dominant forage. These areas will be additionally subject to management that qualifies them as organic silvopastures. Impact of trees on forage quality and animal performance will be assessed for optimization of farm finishing of organic beef. SILVOPAST, a model developed from the framework of a spatially-explicit, resource-driven model, will be used to integrate our study findings to analyze the spatial dynamics of the silvopasture system, and to predict forage production across environmental gradients.

Project Team

Feldhake, Charles James Burger - Professor, Department Of Forestry (304)256-2830

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001   FY 2000

Related National Programs

Integrated Farming Systems (207)