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Agroforestry planting design affects loblolly pine growth

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The effect of plantation design on resource utilization has not been adequately investigated in agroforestry plantations. An experiment was conducted near Booneville, AR, on a silt loam soil with a fragipan. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees were planted in 1994 in three designs: two rows (1.2 by 2.4 m) with a 7.3-m alley, four rows (1.2 by 2.4 m) with a 12.2-m alley, and a rectangular 1.2- by 2.4-m configuration. Each 0.4-ha design was replicated three times. Height and d.b.h. were measured for 6 consecutive years (2002 to 2007) in 0.047-ha plots. Tree height increased annually from 7.30 m (2002) to 13.27 m (2007). For any given year, d.b.h. was greatest in the two-row design, and the four-row design had greater d.b.h. than the rectangular design in 2004 to 2007. Exterior rows in the four-row design had greater d.b.h. than interior rows. Depending on design, plantations might be useful for alley cropping, silvopasture, or pine straw.

Parent Publication

Citation

Burner, D.M. 2013. Agroforestry planting design affects loblolly pine growth. In: Guldin, James M., ed. 2013. Proceedings of the 15th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-GTR-175. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 465-468.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/43641