Submitted by: Liliane Silva, CUCES Forage Specialist and Janet Steele, CUCES Forestry and Wildlife Resources Agent
Site selection is crucial. Suitable sites for establishing silvopasture systems should be determined on criteria considering topography, soil type, drainage, and level of management needed and skills. Moreover, the availability of sunlight, water, fencing, nutrient levels, soil pH, and other resources required for tree and forage growth, and livestock management, etc.
Soil sampling is required before implementation. Soil samples should be collected and sent for analysis by the Clemson Agricultural Laboratory. The recommendation is to sample around 5 acres per composite sample and send it to the laboratory to get a better initial assessment of the soil’s chemical characteristics.
Land preparation –Tree thinning. You will need to seek out proper help from the Clemson Extension Forestry team to help with thinning considerations and recommendations. A general rule of thumb is to have a residual basal area of 40-60 ft2/acre when establishing the forage species in the understory (Figure 1). Exceeding the recommended basal area may impact the forage establishment and compromise growth, leading to failure of establishment or persistence later on due to limited sunlight availability.
Proper land preparation prior to planting is key. Determine if burning is needed, which should be conducted by mid-March to remove a thicker layer of dead material and vegetation standing in the field. Once the field is burned, conduct an assessment to determine if the burning was effective in removing most of the vegetation. If weeds start to germinate, you will need to identify them and use the correct herbicides to promote control prior to planting.
Equipment calibration, seed depth, seed-soil contact and seeding rates. Calibrate your equipment to use the proper calibration for seeding rate and seed depth. These are some of the most common reasons for failure of establishment in any crop, and it is crucial to be conducted prior to planting any crops. Seed-soil contact is essential, so make sure that you will conduct proper preparation to achieve it.
Forage crop establishment. Prepare the area by removing any existing vegetation and debris. Conduct a soil test to determine soil pH and nutrient levels and apply lime/amendments as needed. Conduct proper weed control prior to planting, as needed.
Fertility management. After sowing, fertilizer will be applied according to recommendations.
Weed control. More information will be provided soon for post-establishment management. For pre-establishment, non-selective herbicides should be used to kill all weeds prior to sowing seeds.
Livestock integration. Livestock will start grazing only in Year 2 or later depending on what forages you are establishing and whether you just planted the trees or not.
