Publication Date
1993
Description
Traditionally, the concept of pasture has precluded tree crops in any meaningful and productive way. Grasses and herbaceous legumes have been the major components of pasture. The place of trees in pasture is often limited to live fencing, and a few other trees interspersed within the pasture, to provide shade for livestock. In tropical and subtropical areas, where trees are a significant part of the natural vegetation, the non-inclusion· of trees in pasture and agricultural production systems and their increasing rate of disappearance from the zone are giving rise to serious environmental and agricultural concerns. There is an increasing realisation now that trees need to play a more direct role in agricultural and pasture production systems. This paper addresses the issue that trees can play a significant role in forage and pasture production, as well as enhance environmental recovery and sustainability of production. Production systems within which this can be done are discussed, and a detailed analysis is given of alley farming as an example of such systems. The paper advocates increased cultivation and integration of fodder trees into pasture and agricultural production systems, and stresses the need for increased research attention in this direction.
Citation
Atta-Krah, A N., "Trees and Shrubs as Secondary Components of Pasture" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session56/2
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Trees and Shrubs as Secondary Components of Pasture
Traditionally, the concept of pasture has precluded tree crops in any meaningful and productive way. Grasses and herbaceous legumes have been the major components of pasture. The place of trees in pasture is often limited to live fencing, and a few other trees interspersed within the pasture, to provide shade for livestock. In tropical and subtropical areas, where trees are a significant part of the natural vegetation, the non-inclusion· of trees in pasture and agricultural production systems and their increasing rate of disappearance from the zone are giving rise to serious environmental and agricultural concerns. There is an increasing realisation now that trees need to play a more direct role in agricultural and pasture production systems. This paper addresses the issue that trees can play a significant role in forage and pasture production, as well as enhance environmental recovery and sustainability of production. Production systems within which this can be done are discussed, and a detailed analysis is given of alley farming as an example of such systems. The paper advocates increased cultivation and integration of fodder trees into pasture and agricultural production systems, and stresses the need for increased research attention in this direction.
