Response of forage yield and quality to thinning and fertilization of young forests: implications for silvopasture management

LindgrenPontus, M F; SullivanThomas, P

doi:10.1139/cjfr-2013-0248

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Twenty-two articles were included in the quantitative synthesis. Of the full-text articles assessed for eligibility, two were excluded because they did not include an open pasture control (Oswald et al 2017;Pearson and Baldwin 1993), a forest or timber plantation control (Silva-Pando et al 2002), or both (Debruyne et al 2011;Ares et al 2006;Lopez-Diaz et al 2009;Morris and Clason 1997;Perry et al 2009;Devkota et al 2009;Fernandez-Nunez et al 2014;Folkard et al 2012;Houx et al 2012;Lehmkuhler et al 1999;Lewis 1989;Lindgren and Sullivan 2014;Lindgren et al 2017) and no reasonable assumptions about the productivity of such controls were provided by the authors.…”

Section: Study Selection Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Over-yielding in temperate silvopastures: a meta-analysis

Pent

2020

Agroforest Syst

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Over-yielding in an intercropping system occurs when the productivity of the intercrop exceeds the overall productivity of the systems managed in segregation. The objective of this systematic review was to calculate the over-yielding of silvopastures compared to open pastures and forests, timber plantations, or orchards managed separately. A literature search was completed for comparisons of the productivity of these practices in temperate regions. Data collected from these studies included mean yields of timber or non-timber forest products, forages, and livestock, as well as the characteristics of the study site. Silvopasture practices improve the productivity of land typically managed separately for pasture or trees by 42–55%, depending on whether the productivity of the pastures is measured by livestock or forage output, respectively. In most cases, over-yielding occurred despite a reduction in individual forage, livestock, or tree productivity in the silvopastures. Calculating confidence intervals around these means was not feasible because standard errors were largely not reported or available. Some assumptions were made about the actual productivity of timber or non-timber forest products. This work illustrates the significant level of over-yielding that may be achieved by integrating trees, forages, and livestock into a single production system.

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Section: Study Selection Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Over-yielding in temperate silvopastures: a meta-analysis

Pent

2020

Agroforest Syst

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“…The first study was conducted in 2007 and involved clipping 180 herb plots and correlating the estimated crown volume index with the corresponding oven-dried biomass (Lindgren and Sullivan 2014a). This herb study revealed a strong and significant positive linear relationship for both graminoids (R 2 = 0.95; F 1,17 = 154.50; P < 0.01) and forbs (R 2 = 0.79; F 1,17 = 26.12; P < 0.01) (Lindgren and Sullivan 2013a).…”

Section: Estimating Biomass From Crown Volume Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stand thinning reduces shade and delays canopy closure, and hence may increase forage yields and prolong the silvopasture potential relative to unthinned stands (Moore and Deiter 1992;Peitz et al 2001). In addition, the quality and quantity of forage produced within forest rangeland may be enhanced by fertilization (Wikeem et al 1993;Sullivan et al 2012;Lindgren and Sullivan 2014a). From a forest ecosystem perspective, positive biomass responses of understory vegetation have been reported D r a f t for stand thinning (Sullivan et al 2001;Lindgren et al 2006) and fertilization (Thomas et al 1999;VanderSchaaf et al 2002;Lindgren and Sullivan 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term influence of stand thinning and repeated fertilization on forage production in young lodgepole pine forests

Lindgren¹,

Sullivan

Ransome³

et al. 2017

Can. J. For. Res.

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Integration of trees with forage and livestock production as silvopastoralism is another potential component of intensive forest management. Stand thinning and fertilization may enhance growth of crop trees and understory forage for livestock. We tested the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) (particularly heavy thinning to ≤1000 stems·ha−1) and repeated fertilization, up to 20 years after the onset of treatments, would enhance production of graminoids, forbs, and shrubs as cattle (Bos taurus L.) forage. Results are from two long-term studies: (1) PCT (1988–2013) and (2) PCT with fertilization (PCT–FERT) (1993–2013) of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, total herbs, and shrubs were not affected by stand density. However, fertilization enhanced mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, and total herbs, but not shrubs. Thus, the density part of our hypothesis was not supported, but the nutrient addition part was supported at least for the herbaceous components. Biomass of the herbaceous understory was maintained as a silvopasture component for up to 20 years (stand age 13 to 33 years) in fertilized heavily thinned stands prior to canopy closure.

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“…trees. Lindgren and Sullivan (2014a) reported that repeated fertilization increased crude protein content of pinegrass (Calamogrostis rubescens Buckl.) at five years after the most recent application in BC.…”

Section: Fertilization and Forage Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on abundance and diversity of plants and animals in temperate and boreal forests

Sullivan

Sullivan²

2018

Environ. Rev.

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Aerial and land-based applications of nitrogen-based fertilizers to enhance forest growth makes nutrients potentially available to all trees, plants, and wildlife in a given ecosystem and, therefore, may have direct and indirect effects on wildlife and biodiversity. A scientific review of these potential effects was conducted with 106 published studies covering vascular and nonvascular plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, terrestrial invertebrates, and soil animals associated with fertilization in temperate and boreal forests, primarily in North America and Scandinavia. In terms of direct effects, amphibians and domestic mammals appear to be the most sensitive to urea used in fertilization programs. The avoidance behaviour and (or) mortality of amphibians in laboratory studies was species dependent. Ruminant animals, including wild ungulates, rapidly convert urea to ammonia and are susceptible to toxicity following ingestion of large amounts of urea. Feeding on urea pellets by small mammals or gallinaceous birds appears to be minimal as granules are unpalatable. In terms of indirect effects, the majority of responses of understory herbs to nitrogen fertilization showed an increase in abundance. Some shrubs in repeatedly fertilized stands eventually increased in abundance in long-term studies, whereas dwarf shrubs and abundance of bryophytes (mosses and terrestrial lichens) declined. In general, species richness and diversity of understory herbs and shrubs declined, or were unaffected, in fertilized stands. Response in abundance and species richness-diversity of vascular plants to a single application of nitrogen showed either an increase or no change. Repeated applications (2–5 and >5) usually resulted in declines in these responses. Relative abundance of mule deer (Odocoileus Rafinesque spp.), moose (Alces alces L.), and hares (Lepus L. spp.), and forage quantity and quality were usually increased by fertilization. Small mammal species generally showed increases or no change in abundance; decreases may be related to fertilizer-induced changes in food sources. Forest fertilization may provide winter feeding habitat for coniferous foliage-gleaning insectivorous birds in some cases. Six species of forest grouse showed no response to fertilizer treatments. Responses of soil animals to nitrogen fertilization appeared to be species- and dose-specific and are ameliorated by surrounding micro- and macro-habitat characteristics.

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Response of forage yield and quality to thinning and fertilization of young forests: implications for silvopasture management

Cited by 16 publications

References 43 publications

Over-yielding in temperate silvopastures: a meta-analysis

Over-yielding in temperate silvopastures: a meta-analysis

Long-term influence of stand thinning and repeated fertilization on forage production in young lodgepole pine forests

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on abundance and diversity of plants and animals in temperate and boreal forests

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