Conversion of an oak seed orchard to oak silvopasture

K. Connor; L. Dimov; R. Barlow; M. Smith; E. Kirkland

Conversion of an oak seed orchard to oak silvopasture

Informally Refereed

Authors:

K. Connor, L. Dimov, R. Barlow, M. Smith, E. Kirkland

Year:

2013

Type:

Paper

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

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. 469-471.

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Abstract

The potential of hardwood silvopasture has yet to be realized in the Southeastern United States. The decommissioning of the Stauffer Nursery, Opelika, AL, provided the opportunity to intensively research hardwood silvopasture using various oak species. Average crown diameter ranged from 5.9 feet in white oak (Quercus alba) to 10.7 feet in Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii Palmer). Nuttall oak trees had significantly larger diameters, greater heights, and clear stem lengths than any of the other measured species, while white oak trees have the lowest values. Willow oak (Q. phellos L.) and cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.) averages are comparable.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the 15th biennial southern silvicultural research conference

Citation

Connor, K.; Dimov, L.; Barlow, R.; Smith, M.; Kirkland, E. 2013. Conversion of an oak seed orchard to oak silvopasture. 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. 469-471.