Evaluation of tropical forage legumes under Pinus caribaea var hondurensis in Turrialba,Costa Rica

A number of tropical forage legume species were sown in Turrialba., Costa Rica, in plots in the open and under an even cover of Pinus caribaea var hondurensis of basal area 30m²/ha. Mean light level under the trees was 18% full sunlight. After 19 months, species showing good shade tolerance and adaptation to local conditions were: Centrosema spp., Desmodium spp., Flemingia congesta, Galactia striata. Species of poor performance in the shade were: Stylosanthes spp., Indigofera hirsuta, Cajanus cajan, Stilozobium sp.. Canavalia ensiformis, an annual, grew well in the shade, as did Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata. It is suggested that further work be done on the shade tolerant species for eventual use as components of silvopastoral systems. Recommendations are made concerning germplasm collections, evaluation methodology and research for silvopasture development.

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Resumen Se sembraron especies diversas de leguminosas forrajeras en Turrialba, Costa Rica, en parcelas al descubierto y bajo una cobertura uniforme de Pinus caribaea var hondurensis con area basal de 30 m²/ha. El nivel medio de iluminación bajo los pinos era 18% del nivel a pleno sol. Despues de 19 meses las especies que mostraron buena adaptación a la sombra eran: Centrosema spp., Desmodium spp., Flemingia congesta, Galactia striata. Especies de bajo rendimiento en la sombra eran: Stylosanthes spp., Indigofera hirsuta, Cajanus cajan, Stilozobium sp., La planta anuál Canavalia ensiformis creció bien bajo sombra, como tambien lo hicieron Lablab purpureus y Vigna unguiculata. Se sugiere que se investiguen las especies mencionadas como bien adaptadas al sombreamiento para uso en sistemas silvopastoriles. Se presentan recomendaciones sobre colecciones de germoplasma, metodologia de evaluación y investigación para el desarollo de sistemas silvopastoriles.

     

Enhanced forage production under Samanea saman in a subhumid tropical grassland

The effects of isolated, mature Samanea saman trees on herbaceous production and species composition were investigated over the 1993/1994 growing season in a subhumid tropical grassland in north-east Queensland, Australia. Under the crown, the cumulative aboveground biomass over the season was almost 90% above that of the open grassland. This increase was associated with a difference in species composition. The principal grass under the crown was Panicum maximum, while in the open grassland, the dominant species was Urochloa mosambicensis. Near the crown, cumulative biomass was intermediate and this was reflected in a mixed species composition. This study confirms earlier, largely anecdotal reports of the potential beneficial effects of S. saman on forage production, but by itself was unable to explain the mechanism by which this increase occurred. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

First-year freeze hardiness of pure species and hybrid taxa of Pinus elliottii (Engelman) and Pinus caribaea (Morelet)

Six pine taxa were compared for freeze hardiness following 2 whole plant freeze tests carried out in early and late winter 1993–94. Pure species included slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelman) (PEE), Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet) var. bahamensis (PCB), and var. hondurensis (PCH). The same six slash pine parents served as the female parents of the pure slash pine taxon and were control pollinated to create the F₁ hybrids of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. bahamensis (F1B), the F₁ of slash pine × Caribbean pine var. hondurensis (F1H), and the backcross of slash pine × (slash pine × var. hondurensis (B1H). Four traits related to adaptation (bud set, foliage/stem damage, survival) were compared. Significant differences existing among the three species at all temperatures for both freeze tests. The 3 hybrid taxa were intermediate to parental taxa for all measured traits and only at extreme temperatures was there an indication of hybrid vigor. However, inspection of foliage damage curves to estimate temperatures at which 50 percent damage occurs indicated that the hybrids deviated from the mid parent value toward the more freeze susceptible parent. Discriminant functions which included foliage damage and survival traits provided the best segregation of taxa groupings and the combining of canonical variable 1 for these discriminant functions placed hybrids intermediate to parental taxa. Parent × taxa interaction was significant, suggesting that within these taxa, family to family variation occurred, but different maternal parents were associated with the freeze hardly families in different taxa.This is Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-04852 of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611     

Scion-rootstock relationships with respect to height growth and foliar concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in reciprocal grafts of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis

Both scion and rootstock clones significantly influenced scion elongation and concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the scion foliage. Scion clone was the more important determinant. Scion clone × rootstock clone interactions were not significant. The ability of a clone to elongate as a scion was not correlated with its capacity to promote or retard scion elongation when used as a rootstock. Genetic differences in foliar nutrient concentrations appeared to reflect levels of nutrient demand, rather than the ability of roots to absorb nutrients. Nutrient demand of the rootstock can also explain negative correlations between nitrogen levels in rootstock clones and levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the scions. There was no significant relationship between scion elongation and foliar nitrogen concentrations of either rootstock or scion. The weak relationship between scion elongation and concentration of phosphorus in the rootstock apparently resulted from tissue dilution.     

Cattle and sheep in eucalypt plantations: a silvopastoral alternative in Minas Gerais,Brazil

This study analyses the effects of cattle and sheep grazing in newly established eucalypt plantations. The research was carried out using six separate treatment plots each having a different combination and number of animals. The results indicate that the silvopastoral approach can help control grass competition and reduce stand establishment costs. The eucalypt survival and growth was not affected by the animal grazing.     

Tannins from barks of Pinus caribaea protect Escherichia coli cells against DNA damage induced by gamma-rays

This work was aimed to evaluate genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity activity against gamma-rays of a tannin fraction obtained from barks of Pinus caribaea, as well as to elucidate the antigenotoxic mechanisms involved in radioprotection by using different approaches as pre-, co- and post-irradiation cell treatments with plant extract. The tannin fraction was not genotoxic to Escherichia coli cells in experiments using different exposure times. This extract was antigenotoxic against gamma-rays when the cells were pre- or co-treated with this extracts, but not during post-irradiation treatments, suggesting a possibly antigenotoxic action through free radical scavenging mechanisms. The results are discussed in relation to the chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of the studied plant species.     

Soil properties in forest gaps and under canopy in broad-leaved Pinus koraiensis forests in Changbai Mountainous Region, China

The species composition and diversities, and soil properties under canopy gaps in broad-leaved Pinus koraiensis forests were studied in the Changbai Mountains. The results indicated that the species composition and diversities in gap were different from those under canopy. The Shannon-Wiener index, evenness index, and abundance index in gap were higher than those under canopy in the seedling layer, while the community dominance in the seedling layer increased in closed canopy. The physicochemical properties of soil changed with the change of space and resource availability in gaps. The thickness, standing crop, and water holding capacity of the litter layer under canopy were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those in gap. The content of total nitrogen and total potassium of litter in gap were 10.47% and 20.73% higher than those under canopy, however, the content of total phosphorus and organic carbon under canopy were 15.23% and 12.66% more than those under canopy. The water content of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm of soil layer in gap were 17.65% and 16.17% more than those under canopy. The soil buck density of 0–10 cm were slightly higher under canopy than that in gaps, but there was no significant difference in the soil buck density of the 10–20 cm soil layer. The soil pH values were 5.80 and 5.85 in gap and under canopy, respectively, and were not significantly different. The content of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total potassium in gap were 12.85%, 7.67%, and 2.38% higher than those under canopy. The content of NH₄ ⁺-N, available phosphorus, available potassium, and total phosphorus in soil under canopy were 13.33%, 20.04%, 16.52%, and 4.30% higher than those in gap. __________ Translated from Forest Research, 2006, 19(3): 347–352 [译自: 林业科学研究]     

Management and yield prediction of Kunugi (Quercus acutissima) grazing forests

This study deals with grazing in kunugi (Quercus acutissima) forests in the Aso district of Kyushu Island in southwest Japan. These forests are managed for production of bed-logs for shiitake mushrooms and cow-calf farming. One of their characteristics is short-term rotation such as 10–15 years for bed-logs and a year for calf production. A forest grazing experiment was begun in Minamioguni to look at forest growth, vegetation change and grazing intensity. Stem densities dropped in a few years. After sprout cutting, they also dropped gradually, then stabilized. Although grazing caused tree damage and suppressed tree growth, grazing intensity of up to 150 cow-days/ha·year did not harm forest regeneration. Herbage volume decreased as grazing was repeated and trees grew. Another investigation of kunugi grazing forests in Minamioguni and Asaji showed the correlation betweenRy (yield index in Stand density diagram) and grazing capacity could be expressed with a regression equation. The results were also used to design a yield table for kunugi grazing forests. The yield table has items ofRy and grazing capacity in addition to usual yield table items, and can indicate timber yield and grazing capacity at the same time. The table estimates that proper grazing capacity is 60–80 cow-days/ha·year in wild grass sites. In the light of these results, an optimal management plan was proposed as a diagram integrating stem density, forest yield, and forest management.     

On-farm research in a silvopastoral project: a case study

The Silvopastoral Project is being implemented by CATIE in the Atlantic humid lowland of Costa Rica, in order to develop alternatives to the current destructive mode of livestock production. The overall approach is briefly described and two superimposed on-farm experiments are discussed in more detail. The main constraints for on-farm research within the project are analysed: the limited previous knowledge of the area and of the local species, the difficulty of achieving a common understanding about research with collaborating farmers, the need for additional staff supervision and the complexity of the statistical analyses. An attempt is made to draw lessons from the ongoing project regarding how to resolve the apparent contradiction between rigorous scientific requirements and questions of immediate value to extension, the compromises to be achieved between different types of evaluation (statistical, risk, etc.) and the potentials and limitations of farmers' participation in research.     

Exotic Pinus carbaea causes soil quality to deteriorate on former abandoned land compared to an indigenous Podocarpus plantation in the tropical forest area of southern China

Soil properties under an exotic plantation (Pinus caribaea) and an indigenous plantation (Podocarpus imbricatus) were compared with adjacent secondary forests and abandoned land in the tropical forest areas of Jianfengling National Nature Reserve in Hainan province, southern China. The surface soil (0–0.2 m) under Pi. caribaea has higher bulk density, lower soil organic carbon, total N, total K, available N, microbial biomass carbon, and smaller soil microbial communities (as indicated by soil Biolog profiles) than under Po. imbricatus. Both land use types showed negative cumulative soil deterioration index (DI) compared to secondary forests. However, compared to abandoned land (DI = –262), the soil quality of Po. imbricatus showed improvement (DI = –194) while that of Pi. caribaea showed deterioration (DI = –358). These results demonstrated that these exotic pine plantations can significantly and negatively influence soil properties. By contrast, our results showed that adoption of indigenous species in plantations, or natural regeneration, can improve soil quality.     

An evaluation of silvopastoral systems in pine plantations in the Central Highlands of Ecuador

One of the most serious problems facing Andean nations today is population growth and the resultant pressures placed on limited natural resources. Currently,thousands of hectares of pine plantations in the central highlands of Ecuador are left unmanaged and unutilized, while at the same time local agriculturalists lack grazing land,firewood and other basic necessities which could be provided by appropriate forest management. This paper evaluates ten pine plantations in central Ecuador for their potential as silvopastoral systems, and discusses the possibilities of integrating local farmers into the appropriate management and use of them.

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Resúmen Uno de los problemas mas graves afrontando a los paises Andinos es el crecimiento de la población y las presiones que resultan sobre los recursos naturales. Al momento, miles de hectáreas de plantaciones de pino en la Sierra central del Ecuador se quedan sin que nadie les maneje ni les utilize; mientras tanto los agricultores cercanos sufren por falta de pastoreo, leña y otras necesidades que se podría conseguir a través del manejo forestal. Este documento examine diez rodales de pino en el Ecuador por su potencial como sistemas silvopastoriles, y discute las posibilidades de integrar agricultores pequeños dentro del manejo y uso apropriado de ellos.

     

Promoting intake of Cratylia argentea as a dry season supplement for cattle grazing Hyparrhenia rufa in the subhumid tropics

Cratylia argentea, a drought tolerant shrub, is known to produce significant amounts of fodder during the dry season but little is known of its nutritive value for feeding animals. Two studies of quality and intake of Cratylia argentea, as an arboreal protein supplement for crossbred dual purpose cattle grazing Hyparrenhia rufa in the dry season, were carried out in San Miguel de Barranca, Puntarenas, Costa Rica (January–May). The first experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two forms of C. argentea foliage presentation: 1) fresh or wilted; and 2) sprayed or not with sugarcane molasses diluted in water. Wilting did not affect crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) but treating fresh C. argentea with molasses increased IVDMD by from 55.6 to 60.8% (P < 0.01). Intake of fresh C. argentea increased by 32% with wilting and by 43% with molasses treatment. Pooling data across treatments, a quadratic relationship between dry matter intake of H. rufa (y) and the amount of N consumed in C. argentea (x) was found (y = 1.25 + 0.095x – 0.001x ²). In the second experiment, milk production from the following treatments was evaluated: 1) chicken litter and molasses (D₁); 2) chicken litter, sugar cane and wheat bran (D₂); and 3) C. argentea, sugar cane and wheat bran (D₃). Milk yields averaged 6.0 kg cow^–1 day^–1 and there were no significant differences between treatments. Milk fat was lower for D₂ (2.7%), which had a higher amount of sugar cane in the diet, but differences were not significant. On the other hand, non-fat solids and lactose concentration of milk was higher (P < 0.05) for D₂. Wilting or molasses treatment were effective management strategies for increasing dry matter intake of C. argentea. A higher dry matter intake of C. argentea was associated with increased intake of the fibrous H. rufa grass. Diets with C. argentea as the main protein source gave similar milk production levels and quality to those with chicken litter.     

Microenvironmental heterogeneity of physical soil properties in a broad-leaved Pinus koraiensis forest gap

Microenvironmental heterogeneity of soil physical properties in 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers in a broad-leaved Pinus koraiensis forest gap in Xiao Xing’anling Mountains were analyzed by geostatistical method. The results show that the amount of soil water, saturation water capacity, capillary water capacity and porosity in the top layer were greater than those in the lower layer, except for bulk density, where the opposite applied. Soil physical properties in the top soil layer had relatively higher ranges and coefficients of variation. The total and auto correlation spatial heterogeneity of soil physical properties in the top layer were larger than those in the lower layer. The soil water had a strong anisotropic structure in an easterly and northerly direction, but porosity shows isotropy in the same directions. With increasing spatial distance, the other three physical factors exhibited anisotropic structures. The mutual effect between semi-variograms of soil physical properties in the top layer within the spatial autocorrelation range was not significant. For spatial distribution of physical properties within different layers, the patches at the middle and lower ranks in the forest gap dominated. Patches at higher rank were only distributed in the 0–20 cm soil layer and were located north of the forest gap center. __________ Translated from Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 2007, 5(3): 52–58 [译自: 中国水土保持科学]     

Weed seedbank characteristics of arable fields under different fallow management systems in the humid tropical zone of southeastern Nigeria

The composition and pattern of weed flora in arable fields are determined by their seedbank structure; but the influence of fallow management practices on weed seedbank structure is presently unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate weed seedbank characteristics and weed population dynamics in arable fields in natural and planted-fallow systems. The study plots were at Mbaise, a densely populated area of southeastern Nigeria, where farmers regenerate their exhausted soils by maintaining planted fallows of Dactyladenia barteri (Hook. F. ex Oliv.) Prance & F. White, and at Umuahia, a less-densely populated area in the same region, where farmers depend on natural bush fallow for soil regeneration. The effect of three years of fallow on the weed flora of arable fields in the two fallow management systems differed remarkably. The first flush of weeds on fields that were cultivated after three years of planted D. barteri fallow (Mbaise) consisted of 80% broadleaf weeds, 7% grass weeds and 13% sedges. On the other hand, the first flush of weeds on the natural bush fallow fields (Umuahia) of the same fallow duration as the D. barteri fallow system consisted of 17% broadleaf weeds, 70% grasses and 13% sedges. Three years of planted fallow caused 36% decrease in weed seedbank at Mbaise relative to the cropped field while the same duration of natural bush fallow caused a 31% increase in weed seedbank at Umuahia. These results show that the planted D. barteri fallow system has a higher potential to reduce weed pressure in smallholder agriculture than the natural bush fallow system and may explain in part why farmers in this humid forest zone have adopted the practice. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rainfall redistribution of a virgin Pinus koraiensis forest and secondary Betula platyphylla forest in Northeast China

A virgin Pinus koraiensis forest in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains was selected to study its rainfall redistribution effect via 97 rainfall occurrences during a growing season. The following results were obtained: 1) The canopy interception of the P. koraiensis virgin forest amounted to 98168 mm during a growing season (May to September), which was 19.6 per cent of the total rainfall and 1.3 times that of a secondary Betula platyphylla forest. Compared with other forest types in China (11.4%–36.5%), the ratio of the canopy interception in the virgin pine forest was at a medium level. 2) The throughfall of the virgin pine forest was 395.77 mm, which accounted for 78.7% of total precipitation, and the stem-flow was 8.78 mm, accounting for 1.74% of total precipitation. Compared with the secondary birch forest, the virgin pine forest had lower throughfall but higher stem-flow. 3) Cubic regression equations (p < 0.01) which describe the relation between throughfall, stem-flow and canopy interception in the virgin pine forest and rainfall in an open field were fitted. A linear regression equation (p < 0.01) was found to be a better fit for the relationship between throughfall of the secondary birch forest and rainfall outside the forest. Factors affecting throughfall and stem-flow were analyzed, with results providing a good reference to the study of rainfall redistribution in coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests. __________ Translated from Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 2006, 4(6): 61–65 [译自: 中国水土保持科学]     

Seasonal changes of understorey herbage yield in relation to light intensity and soil moisture content in a Pinus pinaster plantation

The relationship of understorey herbage yield with light intensity and soil moisture content was investigated in a 20-year-old Pinus pinaster plantation in Kilkis of Macedonia, northern Greece, in three seasons (fall, winter and spring). The plantation was thinned at three density levels, high, medium and low (2500, 1750 and 1000 trees/ha respectively) and it was seeded with Dactylis glomerata. In addition, two fertilization levels (0 and 110 N+150 P₂O₅ kg/ha) and grazing intensity levels (0 and 0.8 sheep/ha/yr) were applied in a split-split plot experimental design. It was found that herbage yield was highest in the ungrazed and fertilized low tree density stands in all seasons. In the medium tree density stand, although light was lacking, fertilized plots produced higher herbage yield as compared to unfertilized low tree density stands while fertilization is of no use in close stands if herbage production is the goal. Animals seemed to prefer fertilized and medium density stands. Third degree polynomial equations were the best to explain herbage variation through the seasons both in fertilized and unfertilized plots.     

Phosphorus fractions of fertiliser-derived P in an allophanic soil under Pinus radiata seedlings grown with broom and ryegrass

Changes in phosphorus (P) fractions in a P deficient allophanic soil under P. radiata seedlings grown with broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in pots were studied 14 months after the application of triple superphosphate at the rates of 0, 50, and 100 μg·g⁻¹, to determine the fate of fertiliser-derived P in the rhizosphere soils. Application of P fertiliser increased NaOH-P_i, NaOH-P_o, and H₂SO₄-P_i concentrations in the soil, but decreased the residual-P concentration. The resin-P_i concentration, which is extremely low in this soil (1 to 3 μg·g⁻¹), remained the same. The majority of the added fertiliser P was however recovered in the NaOH-P_i fraction (40%–49%). This is due to the high P fixation in this soil (92%). The second highest P recovery was in NaOH-P_o fraction (7%–19%). Under P deficient condition or addition at the rate of 0 μg·g⁻¹, the NaOH-P_i concentration in the radiata rhizosphere soil was lower than that in the bulk soil and broom and grass rhizosphere soils. This may be due to higher oxalate production by the roots and mycorrhiza under P deficient conditions which released some of the P fixed to the soils in the rhizosphere, which needs to be tested in future studies. Foundation project: This work was supported by Centre for Sustainable Forest Management at Forest Research Institute, New Zealand.     

Modelling mortality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations in the northwest of Spain

Mortality is an important element of growth and yield models, especially if only low intensity silvicultural treatments are carried out. The objective of the present study was to develop a model for predicting tree number decline in planted even-aged stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Galicia (northwestern Spain). The model was constructed using data from two inventories of a trial network involving 68 permanent plots located in unthinned stands, or stands thinned lightly from below. Two alternatives were tested. In one alternative, a two-step modelling strategy was applied. First, a binary response function predicting the survival probability of all the trees in the stand was constructed, and an equation for reduction in tree number was developed, using only data where death had occurred over the period analyzed. Three different approaches were then used to compare the application of the above-mentioned functions together. In the other alternative, a mortality function for directly predicting the reduction in tree number was fitted, including all plots (with and without occurrence of mortality). Both alternatives provided similar results, showed logical behavior, and performed satisfactorily in evaluation tests. However, in choosing the best strategy for inclusion in a stand-level simulator, the use of the second alternative is recommended because it possesses the path invariance property required in a mortality model.     

Decomposition of woody legume nodules in two tree/grass associations under contrasting environmental conditions

Turnover of nitrogen-rich root nodules follows the pruning of legume trees, forming a potentially important yet little studied way of N release to the soil. The effects of soil moisture, herbivory by soil mesofauna and microbial decomposition on the disappearance rate of woody legume nodules was studied in two tree/grass forage production associations. Litter bags containing nodules of Erythrina variegata L. (Papilionoideae: Phaseoleae) were incubated for four weeks in grass-covered alleys between Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. (Papilionoideae: Robinieae) hedgerows, established on a deep alluvial Oxisol under a humid tropical climate and on a shallow Vertisol under a subhumid tropical climate in Guadeloupe, French Antilles. Soil moisture was regulated by irrigating or covering small plots from natural rainfall. Fine nylon mesh bags were used to study the rate of microbial decomposition, and open-ended perforated cylinders were used to estimate nodule herbivory. The chemical traits, especially the lignin: nitrogen ratio, of E. variegata and G. sepium nodules were similar (lignin: N 1.70 and 1.55, respectively), and suggest that the results are probably also applicable to the G. sepium nodules in the associations. Both soil moisture and decomposing agent (microbes or mesofauna) had a significant effect on the nodule disappearance rate, but soil type did not have any apparent effect. The nodule half-life varied from three to seven days under different treatments. The N release rate from the nodules was high, with N half-life varying from three to five days. Herbivory accounted for ca. 10% of total mass and N loss from nodules during the four-week field incubation period, but its importance increased towards the end of the incubation, especially in Vertisol, after the most easily decomposable part of the nodules had decayed. After pruning, the nodule N is released to soil more rapidly than from mulch. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative performance of four multi-purpose trees associated with four grass species in the humid regions of Southern India

The results of a field trial conducted at the Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Kerala to study the compatibility of different components in a silvo-pastoral system revealed that growth and yield of fodder species were significantly influenced by the tree components only after tree canopy formation. The fodder species such as Pennisetum purpureum Schum., Panicum maximum Jacq., Brachiaria ruziziensis Griseb. and Euchlaena mexicana Schrad. grown in association with Casuarina equisetifolia J. R. & G. Forst. and Ailanthus malabarica DC recorded comparatively higher forage yield even after canopy formation. However, forage crops grown in combination with Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. registered relatively lower values for growth and yield. Increased light infiltration into the understorey due to the cladophyllous canopy can be attributed as reason for the higher fodder productivity under Casuarina. Due to the combination of crown size and shape, tree height and spacing the amount of light intercepted by Ailanthus also was very low. Among the four multi-purpose trees used, Acacia recorded the maximum growth rate followed by Casuarina, Ailanthus and Leucaena. Forage productivity of the four species was in the order: Pennisetum purpureum > Panicum maximum > Brachiaria ruziziensis > Euchlaena mexicana. Casuarina with Pennisetum/ Panicm were found to be optimal tree — forage combinations for silvo-pastoral systems.