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Preliminary observations on effects of using different stocking rates of meat goats to control understory vegetation in longleaf pine stands

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Abstract

The use of goats for clearing longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stand undergrowths has potential as an alternative tool to prescribed burning. Objectives of the experiment were to determine the effects of using different stocking rates of meat goats on understory plant biomass height and quantity, understory crown cover density, animal productivity, soil characteristics and damage to pine trees. A 4.86 ha of 8–9 years old longleaf pine stands with 1112 trees/ha was divided into twelve 0.40 ha at Tuskegee, AL. The understudy vegetation contained many volunteer tree species with Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus L.) being the predominant grass cover. Fifty-four mature Kiko wether goats (initial BW = 48.5 ± 2.5 kg) were allocated randomly to four treatments (0, 3, 6, 9 goats/0.4 ha) with three replications per treatment for 83 days in 2013 according to a completely randomized block design. The data was analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. The tree damage was monitored. Results showed that both initial and the final soil bulk density and soil compaction, plant biomass heights and quantity were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Average daily BW gains were not significantly different (P = 0.76) but daily gains were close to zero. The combined final crown cover density percent at 2.0 m decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing stocking rates. The tree damage was minimal even at the highest stocking rates. The results suggest that goats have potential to manage understory vegetation under longleaf pines.

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Acknowledgments

The authors deeply appreciate the financial support of the USDA/NIFA Grant # 36-22091278, McIntire Stennis Forestry Research Program, George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, and College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences of Tuskegee University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, 36088, USA

    Deidre D. Bowie

  2. College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, 36088, USA

    Anthony S. Kumi, Byeng R. Min, Ronald C. Smith, R. J. Davis & Nar K. Gurung

  3. Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension, Tuskegee, AL, 36088, USA

    Alphonso W. Elliott

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  1. Deidre D. Bowie
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  2. Anthony S. Kumi
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  3. Byeng R. Min
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  4. Ronald C. Smith
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  5. R. J. Davis
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  6. Alphonso W. Elliott
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  7. Nar K. Gurung
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Correspondence to Nar K. Gurung.

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Bowie, D.D., Kumi, A.S., Min, B.R. et al. Preliminary observations on effects of using different stocking rates of meat goats to control understory vegetation in longleaf pine stands. Agroforest Syst 90, 747–761 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9956-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9956-5

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