The management of high-quality timber plantations prioritizes obtaining high productions with short rotation cycles, which results in high economic and environmental costs, similar to intensive agricultural systems. The suppression of the herbaceous understorey by ploughing, and the use of fertilizers to boost tree growth potentially pose high environmental risks. Managing these plantations as silvopastoral systems (e.g. by introducing livestock and sowing legume-rich pastures) could reduce environmental risks. However, this management shift can only be effective if it is accompanied by an increased complementarity in the use of soil resources to maintain production. We evaluated rooting systems, tree water status and growth, pasture production, soil moisture and nitrate content in the soil solution in a 13-year-old hybrid walnut (Juglans major × regia) plantation under alternative management schemes. The management aimed at reducing herbaceous understorey cover (grazing, ploughing and mowing) and fertilizer usage (no fertilization, inorganic fertilization and legume sowing). Grazed and mowed plots had higher root surface density than ploughed plots. Ploughed plots also showed lower values of soil water (in summer) and tree leaf water potential than grazed and mowed plots. Tree growth and nitrate content in the soil solution was higher in ploughed than grazed or mowed plots. Fertilized and sown plots had higher understorey biomass and lower soil water (in summer) than unfertilized plots. Tree growth was higher in fertilized than unfertilized plots, with intermediate values in sown plots. Managing high-quality timber plantations under silvopastoral schemes with improved legume-rich forages might be a feasible way to reduce the high ecological maintenance costs of these plantations, without compromising their productivity.

与集约型农业系统类似，对优质木材人工林的管理优先考虑在短轮换周期内获得高产量，这会导致高昂的经济和环境成本。通过耕作抑制草本下层植物，以及使用肥料促进树木生长可能会带来很高的环境风险。将这些人工林作为林牧系统进行管理（例如，通过引入牲畜和播种富含豆类的牧场）可以减少环境风险。但是，这种管理转变只有在伴随着增加土壤资源维持生产的互补性的情况下才能有效。我们评估了13岁杂种核桃的生根系统，树木的水分状况和生长，牧草产量，土壤水分和土壤溶液中的硝酸盐含量（胡桃木 ×里 贾）根据替代管理计划进行人工林。该管理旨在减少草皮下层覆盖（放牧，耕种和割草）和肥料用量（不施肥，无机肥和豆科植物播种）。耕地和割草地块的根表面密度高于耕地。与耕地和割草地块相比，耕地还显示出较低的土壤水（夏季）和树叶水势。耕地的树木生长和土壤溶液中的硝酸盐含量均高于放牧或割草的耕地。与未施肥的地块相比，施肥和播种的地块下层生物量较高，土壤水含量较低（夏季）。施肥地块的树木生长高于未施肥地块，播种地块的中间值较高。