Between the Lakes Agroforestry Project:
Beaver Lake view
The project area is a steep, 34-acre, north-facing, improved grass pasture. It is situated between two lakes (Beaver Lake and New Lake) having elevations of 448 ft. and 500 ft. It has rounded dry knolls and some flats with excessive moisture. Soil erosion was a problem on this site.
In September 1991, we cut the forage in the pasture with a sickle bar mower and windrowed the cut forage into tree contour lines with a side delivery rake. In some areas of the pasture, we were unable to create a thick mat of mulch, so we unrolled 28 round hay bales (1300 lb) in sections of the rows.
In January 1992, we divided the pasture into three management areas based on topography, soil type, and moisture regime gradients. on the higher, more marginal slopes, we planted 1171 improved loblolly pines (Pinus taeda). on the two lower, more productive areas, we planted 344 sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and 620 green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in separate contour rows. We planted 2896 black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) around them as a barrier to limit cattle damage. The black locusts also serve as training trees to improve the form of the sycamore and green ash and provide nitrogen through nodule fixation.
Loblolly pines are used for paper and lumber. Sycamore is used for furniture and butcher blocks. Green ash is used for furniture and sporting goods. Black locust is rot resistant and is used for posts and fencing wood. We planted locally-collected rooted willows (Salix nigra) along the lake margins, hoping to satisfy the beavers’ appetites before they reached the hardwood planting. We hand planted seedlings with dibble bars. Each winter from 1993 to 1995 we replaced any dead trees with seedlings of the appropriate species.
Management:
After planting, the total tree row acreage was 5, and the total pasture acreage was 28. In May 1992, we cut the forage in the wide alleys (56 ft) and windrowed the cut forage from 9 ft on each side into the tree rows. From 1992 to 1995 we hayed the project each spring and brush-hogged the edges of the tree rows. Each fall we brush-hogged the pasture.
Grazing tests with mature cows were conducted each year to observe the cows’ behavior and compatibility with the trees. Beginning in winter 1996 we began the maintenance and use phase of the project. We “flash” grazed the pasture for two days with 100+ cows and their calves as they hit the area in their normal rotation pattern.
Establishment costs from 1992-95 were about $2240 or $66/acre. This includes site preparation, seedlings, and labor. Survival of trees thus far has been good (70%+) with green ash at almost 100%. Average 5-year heights for species planted: pine - 6 ft, sycamore - 9 ft. green ash - 9 ft, and black locust - 16 ft. The beavers cut one green ash tree and one sycamore tree. The willows planted along the edge of the project to satisfy the beavers’ appetite were heavily grazed several times during each summer and winter.
We are getting good diversity in the tree rows from wild (free) trees becoming established naturally, mostly as root sprouts. Wild trees established in rows so far include green ash, persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), willow oak (Quercus phellos), winged elm (Ulmus alata), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), thornless honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), and a few pecans (Carya illinoensis). We are on a long-term program of soil testing in tree rows, the areas between tree rows, and control areas for plots representing distinct soil types. Soil sample report information has been prepared by the Kerr Center Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory.
sawfly causes damage on the loblolly pine
Observations:
We are observing an increase in the native grass component with Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) and Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) becoming established in the least grazed areas. Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) are increasing in the most heavily grazed areas.
An erosion scar which was a precipitating factor in the project’s location has grassed in and healed over nicely. We planted bald cypress in the pools of the erosion scar that didn’t grow grass because of shallow water table conditions. No overflow from New Lake has occurred since a new spillway was constructed.
Interest in this tree establishment method continues to increase. Talks have been presented at multiple events including the Forest Trust Confabration and The Society of American Foresters Annual National Convention. Several tours were also given to landowners. This project was featured on the Kerr Center’s 1995 Farm Field Day which had 105 interested persons in attendance including farmers, ranchers, scientists and other agriculture professionals. This project received international exposure as part of a presentation at the Russian Academy of Sciences and has been toured by farmers from Russia and extension agents from Haiti. This project formed the basis of a method paper in proceedings published by the Society of American Foresters.
Wild turkey
The project site attracts wild turkeys because of its species diversity and its position between their safe roosting areas and the wildlife food plots where they feed. Flocks of more than 50 turkeys have been observed here. Snakes, bobcats, eagles, and hawks keep the rodents at acceptable levels. Coyotes, deer, possums armadillos and raccoons use the area at night.
The green ash were not damaged by the cattle but have received considerable damage from deer. They immediately send out new shoots and recover nicely. The improved loblolly pines were attacked by pine needle rust, girdling beetles, tip moths, and sawflies during the summer of 1994.
These attacks were severe enough to limit height and mass growth and resulted in the death of 21 trees. In 1995 we had some disease and problems but not as severe as in 1994. In 1996 there was very little bug damage. Large numbers of beneficial insects are now present including parasitic wasps, spiders, ladybugs, praying mantis, and lacewings. We lost some of our sycamores to blackberry virus. The black locust have received very little damage.
Cattle grazed the project, as follows: 120 ADU’s (animal daily units) in 1993 and 231 ADU’s in 1994, 700 ADU’s in 1995, and 1820 ADU’s in 1996. With the “flash” grazing maintenance and use strategy there has been little tree damage to the hardwoods or pines.
