Agroforestry for hardwood timber production

Publication date: 03/06/2019
Extent: 28 pages

Contributions by: J. W. ‘Jerry’ Van Sambeek, formerly of USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station and University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, USA

Chapter synopsis: Managing hardwood trees for high-quality sawlogs within the agroforestry practices of alley cropping, silvopasture, forested riparian buffers and upland (windbreaks) buffers means intensively managing relatively wide-spaced trees and a ground cover as a companion crop on the same unit of land. This chapter synthesizes available information on managing such trees for production of veneer and high-quality sawlogs within the agroforestry practices aforementioned. Sections on the impact of ground cover on tree growth are provided, as are growing-space requirements for hardwoods. Pruning recommendations and practices are also covered as pruning is essential for production of high-quality logs of most species in any agroforestry practice. The chapter concludes with a section on log and wood quality and the general requirements of veneer logs (e.g. nearly cylindrical shape with a well-centred heart, a minimum of internal defects, uniform wood colour and texture and properly sawed to length without debris) discussed.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2018.0041.16