A study was conducted to identify and explore indigenous knowledge relating to fodder trees and silvopastoral management systems of small-scale farmers in seasonally dry areas of Jamaica. The objectives of the study were to: 1) explore farmers indigenous knowledge relating to fodder trees and silvopastoral management systems in a subtropical dry climate; 2) examine pastoral land-use systems and technologies in current use; and 3) seek to integrate this information into silvopastoral tree fodder systems. Data were gathered via observation and semistructured interviewing. A snowball sampling strategy was used to purposively select all small-scale farmers who had cattle in the Green Park valley for interview.Of forty farmers interviewed, 37 males (92.5%) and 3 females (7.5%) were primary caretakers of cattle. Twenty-seven of 40 farmers (68%) raised cattle to generate income. During extended droughts farmers are forced to look for alternatives to desiccated, overgrazed pasture grasses, including: 1) local travel to harvest sugar cane tops and to cut Guinea grass (Panicum maximum); 2) purchase of bag feed; and 3) harvest and use of tree fodder. Preferred fodder trees were identified as Bacedar (Guazama ulmifolia), Guango (Albizia saman), Breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) and Quickstick (Gliricidia sepium).Recommended silvopastoral management systems include fodder hedgerows, three strata forage systems, and living fences. In addition, production of indigenous fodder tree species, introducing improved tree fodder species, and planting improved pasture grasses concurrent with cash trees is suggested.

A shelterwood cut, applied in 1954, failed to adequately regenerate oaks on an upland site in southern Michigan. At age 22, the stand, dominated by dogwood, red maple, black cherry, and other low-quality species, was clearcut and planted to 2-0 northern red oak seedlings. Four treatments included: control (clearcut harvest only), woody brush control, plastic tree seedling shelters, and woody brush control plus tree seedling shelters. The northern red oak seedlings planted in tree shelters were 42% taller than unsheltered seedlings after 2 growing seasons. Over 64% of sheltered seedlings were 3 ft high or taller, compared to only 22% of the unsheltered seedlings, after 2 growing seasons. Woody brush control appeared to have no effect on the 2-year height of planted red oak. North. J. Appl. For. 7(1):24-26, March 1990.

Principal component analysis of white oak (Quercusalba L.) and black oak (Quercusnigra L.) revealed different stem profiles across four ecological land units in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Multivariate linear regression and geometric models were developed to predict DBH from stump diameter for both species. For the multivariate model, the prediction variables were stump diameters at 15 and 30 cm above the ground level. The geometric model uses stump diameter at any height. Both the multivariate and geometric models can be used to predict DBH; however, the geometric models have the advantage of using fewer variables and being more flexible than the multivariate models.

Twelve 20-ha stands of natural loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.)-mixed hardwoods were harvested and site preparation treatments applied as follows: no site preparation (harvest only); glyphosate [N-(phosphomethyl)glycine] aerially applied at 0.25 kg ai/ha and the site burned 6 weeks later; roller-drum chopped, then burned; sheared and disced in one pass; sheared, then V bladed and disced; sheared, then raked; and sheared, raked, and then disced in three separate passes. Loblolly pine survival was 16% and volume 58% greater after the first two growing seasons on mechanically treated areas than on untreated stands or on areas treated with herbicide and then burned. Total vegetative cover was highest during both growing seasons on sites that had been sprayed and burned, and lowest on sites that were mechanically cleared and tilled. Grass and hardwood cover was negatively correlated with loblolly pine height and seedling volume during both growing seasons.

Brosimum alicastrum, Sw., a member of the Moraceae family, is a tree species found throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean including Jamaica. It has many uses, including fodder, human food, medicine, wood products, and fuel. The species is now rare in the more heavily populated regions of Jamaica, and there is often conflict between the two primary users, farmers and charcoal burners. Knowledge of its seed biology and reproduction exists, but sitespecific information is lacking. On-farm experimentation in western Jamaica reported in this paper indicates that seedling production is feasible, timing of seed collection and planting is crucial, and container grown seedlings are recommended over bareroot stock.