Alternate land uses for marginal soils

ABSTRACT:

A long-term study (15 year) was established on 10 representative marginal soil series and attempted unsuccessfully on three others in Tennessee to evaluate productivity for forage mass or fiber. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) was evaluated for production and two tree species, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) were planted for fiber production. Some soils had good potential for forage and fiber production, while other soils should be considered for alternate uses not involving harvesting or grazing. Tall fescue forage mass varied among soils (2.4 to over 6 Mg/ha/yr [1.1 to over 2.7 ton/acre/yr]). On most sites, because of topography and accessibility, grazing would be the preferred utilization for tall fescue. Loblolly pine generally grew better on Wolftever clay loam (Hapludult) and Philo sandy clay loam (Dystrudept) than on other soils. Response of American sycamore to Memphis silt (Haptudalf), which is not a marginal soil and was included as a control, and that of some of the more productive marginal soils in the study, suggests that this species requires soils with greater available water than loblolly pine. Alternate, non-commodity uses for droughty and severely eroded soils, such as the Ruston clay loam (Paleudult) and Lexington loam (Dystrudept), could include conservation and recreational purposes. Management directed toward increasing mast (wildlife food) and habitat to enhance game populations could provide landowners with a supplemental source of income.