
Formosa - Shelter increased pasture production by 30%
15 Oct 2020
Pasture productivity in spring 2017 was on average 30% higher in the sheltered half of a paddock compared to the unsheltered half. A Prinus radiata shelterbelt occupied approximately 1 ha of the paddock (4%), but induced a 15% increase in pasture growth over the remaining 24 ha, and effectively increased the pasture production to the equivalent of a 29 ha paddock.
The impact of shelter on gross margin is likely to be around $63/ha, or $1500 in total across the paddock. Any financial benefits for stock survival, carbon and forest products are in addition to this.