Browsing by Subject "Agroforestry"
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Item A Comparison of Soil Infiltration Rates across Silvopasture, Open Pasture and Traditional Forest Management in Central Minnesota(2016-10) Vaughan, SophiaSilvopastoral implementation has been proposed as an environmentally and economically beneficial practice for livestock farmers in Central Minnesota. To assess the adoptability and merits of silvopastoral systems, three paddocks (open pasture, traditional woodlands, and silvopasture) were developed at three farms. Water infiltration was used as a metric for water and soil quality. Soil infiltration, moisture content, saturated hydraulic conductivity and physical soil properties were collected at each location. Subsurface nutrient transport was measured in situ and in a laboratory with a bromide tracer. Soil infiltration rates increased at 47% of test locations. The bromide tracer tests and soil texture results confirmed minimal secondary porosity present, inhibiting vertical nutrient transport. Vegetation and animal management, geology, soils, climate change and prior land use were discussed as possible influences for soil infiltration. Results suggest silvopasture implementation in this region can improve soil infiltration without increasing the risk of water pollution.Item Development of agroforestry systems for bioenergy crop production and soil conservation.(2012-10) Gamble, Joshua D.Agroforestry systems have been proposed as a means of dedicated bioenergy crop production that can potentially satisfy a broad suite of social, economic, and environmental objectives. Strategic placement of such systems may help to maximize economic returns from marginal crop land and reduce agricultural non-point source pollution. However, little is known about the performance of perennial bioenergy crops in agroforestry systems in the North Central Region. Moreover, the effectiveness of these crops in reducing certain types of agricultural non-point source pollution relative to conventional annual cropping systems is unknown. Therefore, experiments were conducted to 1) evaluate the establishment and productivity of dedicated woody and herbaceous perennial bioenergy crops in riparian alley cropping agroforestry systems, and 2) to evaluate the effects of dedicated perennial bioenergy crops on surface runoff and sediment loss relative to conventional and alternative annual cropping practices. In the first experiment, basal area of poplar clone ‘NM6’ averaged 1,045 and 1,744 mm2 tree-1 at two sites after two seasons, while that of willow clone ‘Fish Creek’ averaged 770 and 1,609 mm2 tree-1. Prairie cordgrass and a native polyculture were among the most productive herbaceous crops at both sites, averaging between 7.1 and 11.9 Mt ha-1 by the second growing season. During the first two years following establishment, competition for resources did not reduce establishment success or productivity of woody and herbaceous crops along the tree-crop interface. These results suggest that hybrid poplar and willow along with certain herbaceous bioenergy crops may be well suited to alley cropping on riparian sites, though more research is needed to evaluate crop persistence and productivity within the alley cropping environment. In the second experiment, a native grass mixture reduced the average sediment concentration in surface runoff by 87% and 90% relative to a corn-soybean rotation and no-till corn, respectively. Sediment concentrations in surface runoff from short-rotation willow did not differ from the corn-soybean rotation, but were reduced in fall surface runoff by 51% relative to no-till corn. These results suggest that soil conservation can be improved in short-rotation willow systems, but confirm previous findings that native grasses can provide excellent sediment retention relative to annual systems.Item Expanding agroforestry in Minnesota, USA: assessing the potential for silvopasture as an alternative to passive woodland grazing(2016-08) Ford, Madeline177,791 ha of woodlands in Minnesota, USA are grazed. Often these woodlands are not managed specifically for timber or cattle benefits. This lack of management often leads to decreased timber value and reduced forage yields. Silvopasture is a potential alternative to this lack of land management on Minnesota woodlots. Silvopasture is a type of agroforestry that intentionally combines trees, forage and livestock in an intensively-managed system. However, very limited information exists about silvopasture use in Minnesota. This three-year study (2013-2015) examines the potential for silvopasture success in Minnesota through comparing production of unmanaged woodland grazing, silvopasture and open pasture sites. The study collaborated with three farmers in Central Minnesota to assess these three grazing systems on their land. Silvopasture paddocks were established through thinning and seeding woodland areas. The study assessed forage production, forage quality, species diversity, and livestock performance. Forage production was generally greater in silvopasture systems compared to unmanaged woodland grazing systems, and forage quality was lower in open pasture systems, at least during the first year. Additionally, species diversity was typically lowest in open pasture systems, and comparable between silvopasture and woodland areas. Livestock performance was similar between the grazing systems. Results indicate that silvopasture has potential in Minnesota, but more research is needed to develop specific management guidelines as well as monitor silvopasture for longer periods of time.Item Identifying the Factors that Constrain and Facilitate the Adoption of Agroforestry Practices by Minnesota and Wisconsin Agricultural Producers(2024-05) Benning, MaxwellAgroforestry practices are agricultural and natural resource management systems in which trees are incorporated with agricultural crops and/or livestock. Agroforestry practices, particularly windbreaks, silvopasture, alley cropping, riparian forest buffers, forest farming, and living snow fences, provide a variety of environmental, economic, and social benefits to agricultural communities and landscapes. Despite the services these systems offer, only 1.9% of farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin adopted at least one agroforestry practice by 2022. The purpose of this research was to identify the constraints to agroforestry adoption and opportunities to increase adoption by agricultural producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Following producer interviews and a comprehensive review of the agroforestry adoption literature, three rounds of a mail survey were sent to producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The survey collected data regarding current adoption of agroforestry practices, information on acceptable incentives and limiting constraints, the likelihood of adopting each practice, and demographic information. Binary logistic regressions were performed to identify the constraints, opportunities, and demographic data that significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption for each practice. The results indicate that windbreak adoption is enhanced by financial assistance programs, aesthetic values, and an alignment with producers' goals. Silvopasture adoption is enhanced by a minimization of competition between trees and forage, an alignment with producers' goals, and the lack of a woodlot on the farm. Alley cropping adoption is enhanced by technical assistance, aesthetic values, and a compatibility with the producers’ management and equipment and is likely to be adopted by younger producers and those with smaller farms. Riparian forest buffer adoption is enhanced by financial assistance programs and colleagues adopting riparian forest buffers. Forest farming adoption is enhanced by technical assistance, a compatibility with the producers’ management and equipment, and the presence of a woodlot. Finally, living snow fence adoption is enhanced by an alignment with producers' goals, the availability to manage trees, profit opportunities from the living snow fence, and colleagues adopting living snow fences. Natural resource technical assistance providers and policymakers can use these results to remove barriers and improve incentives for agroforestry practices, promoting agroforestry adoption among Minnesota and Wisconsin agricultural producers.Item Source, Fall 2011(University of Minnesota Extension, 2011) University of Minnesota ExtensionItem Source, Fall-Winter 2009(University of Minnesota Extension, 2009) University of Minnesota Extension