School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemAn analysis of radiata pine-pasture agroforestry systems( 1993)Agroforestry, the integration of forestry and agricultural production, requires an understanding of the interactions between trees, agriculture and the environment. This thesis presents an analysis of the effects of a variety of Radiata Pine-pasture agroforestry treatments on soil water, tree growth and form and pasture production together with a series of economic analyses using the FARMTREE model to simulate the various agroforestry regimes established at Carngham in western Victoria. The Carngham study site consists of a replicated randomized block design of five Radiata Pinepasture treatments. The treatments were: open pasture (no trees), 100 trees/ha (8 m x 12 m), 277 trees/ha-wide-spaced (4 m x 9 m), 277 trees/ha-5 row (5 rows, 4 x 3 m, with 10 row gap) and 1650 trees/ha (no pasture). Results, 11 years after tree establishment, show that soil water content under the various treatments has a cyclical pattern of recharge and discharge with an annual amplitude of approximately 100 mm. Within the 100 trees/ha and 277 trees/ha-5 row and 277 trees/ha-wide-spaced treatments, the soil water content was generally significantly less than under open pasture in the upper 170 cm of the upper profile. Within the 1650 trees/ha treatment, the trees utilize water to a depth of at least 270 cm. Tree form was influenced by tree density. Tree diameter decreased but height increased with tree density with the trees of largest volume produced in the 277 trees/ha-wide-spaced treatment. Variable-lift pruning was routinely applied on an annual basis from tree age 6 years, to minimize the internal knotty-core and to maximise the volume of knot-free timber produced. Pruning was virtually completed (to 6 m) after five or six annual treatments, and significant relationships between DOS (diameter over stubs) and various tree parameters were identified as predictors for determining the volume of the knotty-core. Agricultural production was assessed as net pasture production using rising-plate methodology during the major growth seasons. Trees in single rows, as in the 100 trees/ha and 277 trees/ha-wide-spaced treatments, had only a limited effect on net pasture production compared to the zone within 4.5 m from the trees in the 277 trees/ha-5 row treatment where pasture production was significantly less than in open pasture, or in the zone from 4.5 to 18 m from the tree line where there was a possible shelter benefit. Although pasture production was similar between treatments, animal production decreased with increasing tree density. Economic analyses using the FARMTREE model and progressive data from the Carngham trial showed that simulations of the agroforestry regimes at Carngham were more profitable than grazing alone using real discount rates up to 7%. The 277 trees/ha-wide-spaced regime returned the greatest net present values over the range of discount rates used. The optimum rotation length, assuming a 5% real discount rate, was 26 years. Based on the 277 trees/ha-5 row treatment, shelter benefits for agricultural production could be obtained with a distance between belts of 150 to 200 m and by leaving at least 10% of the trees unpruned. The Carngham trial represents one case study of Radiata Pine-pasture agroforestry for south west Victoria. On this basis, the data presented provides information on patterns and trends likely to be encountered in applying agroforestry to other locations in Victoria. The adoption of agroforestry requires ongoing research trials and demonstrations and the Carngham trial has been well planned and maintained and should be seen as a valuable asset for the advancement of agroforestry in Victoria.
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