Adaptation of tree legumes in a silvopastoral system for sheep in a temperate climate
Authors:   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México, Nuncio Ochoa María Guadalupe Josefina , Pérez Olivera Alek Fernando ,   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México, Gómez Ramos Benjamín ,   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México., Trujillo Pahua Verónica ,   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México., Díaz Maldonado Isaías de Jesús ,   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México., Oviedo Boyso Javier ,   Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México., Salinas Delgado Vicente ,   Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, km. 6,5 Carretera Morelia-Salamanca, Col. Los Ángeles, Morelia, Michoacán, México., Román Bravo Rafael María ,   Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
Published: September 2024

The objective was to evaluate, over a one-year period, the survival, production, and nutritional value of forage from tree legumes as well as grasses and weeds in a silvopastoral system. A mixed protein bank was established, consisting of two plots: in the first plot, planting orientation was East to West, and in the second, North to South. The planted tree species were leguminous: pata de vaca (Bauhinia forficata), albizia (Albizia lebbeck), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), and palo dulce (Eysenhardtia polystachya). Three planting densities were used, with tree spacings of 70x70, 90x90, and 110x110 cm. Survival was assessed visually and manually by identifying the species and recording their condition as either alive (1) or dead (0). A three-way classification model with an unequal number of repetitions was used, employing the Generalized Linear Models procedure of the statistical analysis system under a fixed effects model. The nutritional value of thetree legumes ranged from 11% to 18% protein. Differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between treatments and orientation regarding height. There was a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) of treatment, orientation, period, and species on foliage production. Differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found in species survival, with albizia (Albizia lebbeck) being notable. The period also significantly influenced (p ≤ 0.05) tree survival. It is concluded that the survival rate of forage tree legume species determines their capacity to establish silvopastoral systems in a subhumid temperate climate in mixed protein bank arrangements