Assessing the Potential for Agroforestry in the Southern U.S.
Investigators:
Evan Mercer,
Southern Research Station
F. Christian Zinkhan, North Carolina State University
Description:
After two decades of emphasis on the tropics, agroforestry is emerging as an important area of land management research and development in northern temperate zones, especially in the United States. The Southern USA holds considerable agroforestry potential due to its diverse climate and landscapes and the existence of vast acreages of non-industrial private forest, crop, and pasture lands that lack sharp demarcations between obviously "optimal" land uses. In this study area, a variety of research tools (e.g. surveys of southern land-use professionals, literature reviews, surveys of agroforestry socio-economics researchers, and conjoint analysis) are being used to evaluate the status of and potential for agroforestry in the Southern United States. Silvopastoral systems are the most common form of agroforestry in the region. Increased economic returns, diversification, and enhancement of the timing of cash flows were the most frequently mentioned benefits associated with the establishment of silvopastoral systems. Some of the problems associated with alley-cropping systems--less frequently observed than silvopastoral systems--were lower- than-expected productivity or profitability, damage to trees when cultivating the crop component, and labor/management skill constraints. Identified opportunities for implementing agroforestry systems in the region include: to improve marginal lands; to serve as windbreaks and natural barriers; to enhance the economics of selected natural pine, hardwood plantation, and pine plantation systems; and to provide specialty products on small landownerships.
Problem Area(s):
Objectives and behavior
Status:
Ongoing
Products:
Mercer, E. and R.P. Miller. 1998. Socioeconomic research in agroforestry: progress, prospects, priorities. Agroforestry Systems 38:177-193.
Zinkhan, F.C.; Mercer, D.E. 1997. An assessment of agroforestry systems in the Southern USA. Agroforestry Systems. 35: 303-321.
Zinkhan, F. Christian; Mercer, D. Evan. 1997. The status of agroforestry in the South. In: Greene, John L., ed. Redefining roles in forest economics research; Proceedings of the 26th annual Southern Forest Economics Workshop; 1996 March 27-29: Gatlinburg, TN. [Knoxville, TN]: [University of Tennessee]: 123-131.
Zinkhan, F. Christian; Mercer, D. Evan. 1997. South. A summary of the report, Agroforestry and sustainable systems in the South. in: Merwin, Miles, ed. The status, opportunities and needs for agroforestry in the United States: a national report. Available from: AFTA, c/o Dr. D.B. Hill, Forestry Dept., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0073.
Zinkhan, Christian F. 1996. Public land-use professionals' perceptions of agroforestry applications in the South. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 20 (3): 1-7.
Zinkhan, F.C.; Zinkhan, G.M. 1994. An application of conjoint analysis to capital budgeting: the case of innovative land management systems. Managerial Finance. 20 (7): 37-50.
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modified:
13-MAR-2000
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USDA FS SRS
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