TreeLines
May 2024 – 2nd Edition
Converting Agricultural Lands to Forestry Plantations
ArborGen produces enough seedlings for reforestation each year on a wide array of sites to cover approximately 600,000 acres, primarily in the Southeastern United States. Most of these sites are classified as cutovers, where all timber has been harvested to make way for a new stand. Quite often, however, former agricultural crop fields and livestock pastures are converted to forestland, a process known as afforestation, which refers to the establishment of a forest, or stand of trees, in an area without forest. In fact, emerging carbon market have given landowners even more incentive to plant tree seedlings on land previously not forested.
Converting former agricultural lands into forestry plantations is not without its challenges. Years of farm equipment and animal traffic can lead to soil compaction, creating a plow pan or hardpan. This condition hampers root system development and nutrition for new seedlings. Despite the best efforts of landowners to plant former crop fields, they often face disappointment in tree growth later due to the seedlings’ inability to thrive in their new environment. This is evidenced by symptoms such as thinning crowns and poor foliage color.
One crucial step before planting is breaking up the ground to shatter the compacted soil. This is a recommended practice for all formerly cultivated or pastured sites. The process involves improving plant development and vigor, allowing new seedling roots to access water and nutrients. It also plays a role in preventing surface water runoff, thereby enhancing soil moisture in the new forest plantation. This step is vital in successfully establishing forestry plantations on former agricultural sites.
ArborGen OP seedlings being hand planted on a rocky ripped site in Oklahoma.
ArborGen MCP® seedlings being machine planted in Arkansas.
If former agricultural sites are to be machine planted, the mechanical planter is usually equipped with a “shank” that can be adjusted to a depth that will rip or shatter the plow pan. The seedling is placed right behind the ripper in a soil medium where the compaction has been alleviated for better root growth potential. If hand planting is the only option, subsoiling in the desired transect across the field with a farm tractor before planting is essential. The hand-planting crew can easily follow the ripped line and place the seedlings at the desired stocking level. Either method of planting following subsoiling ensures the newly planted seedling will attain adequate root growth potential.
Finally, an equally important and easy task to complete before establishing forestry plantations on former agriculture sites is to perform a soil pH test. It is not uncommon for former agriculture sites to have a higher than desired soil pH for most forest trees. Former pasturelands are often limed, raising the soil pH to higher than desired levels for southern yellow pine. University county extension agencies provide directions on conducting soil testing and can analyze results with minimal costs. Always consult herbicide specialists before treating sites with chemicals before and after plantation establishment.
Best Practices: Testing Soil Compaction
Jason Watson, Director U.S. Sales, discusses the conversion of agricultural lands to forestry plantations and testing soil compaction.
Customer Success Story
Charles Stockton of Crockett, Texas speaks about trusting ArborGen with his family’s legacy land they have owned since 1906.
Austin Heine
North Carolina and Virginia
910-660-3209
Greg Hay
Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and Oklahoma
501-350-4217
Shannon Stewart
Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana
936-239-6189
Paul Jeffreys, Ph.D.
Alabama & Mississippi
Manager Special Projects & Sustainability
205-712-9582
Drew Fasano
Reforestation Advisor
South Carolina
843-520-6865
Blake Sherry
Reforestation Advisor
Georgia and Florida
912-433-5407
Kylie Burdette
U.S. Sales Manager
864-650-4454
Jason Watson
Director, U.S. Sales
404-840-7489
FIND AN ADVISOR OR NURSERY