Dynamics and stability of Marandu grass tillers in monocrop systems and babassu palm silvopastoral systems

Araújo, Rogério César Pereira de; Rodrigues, Rosane Cláudia; Costa, Claudionete Abreu; Santos, Francisco Naysson de Sousa; Lima, Antonio José Temístocles de; Rodrigues, Marcônio Martins

doi:10.4025/actasciagron.v42i1.42445

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 21 publications

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“…According to Soares et al (2009), the lower light incidence during the dry season can cause morphological changes in the B. decumbens canopy and cause the leaf/stem ratio to increase as a compensation mechanism. On the other hand, intense shading exacerbates etiolation in grasses, and the leaves become larger and thinner in their effort to better capture sunlight (Araújo et al 2020). The leaf/stem ratio is considered an indirect indicator of forage quality (Moore et al 2020).…”

Section: * Primary Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viability of a macauba palm–Brachiaria grass intercropping system as an alternative to agroforestry production

Montoya

Motoike

Kuki

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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In intercropping systems, shading is one of the main limiting factors for the development of plants in the understory, especially C 4 plants. However, successful pasture production in silvopastoral systems can be achieved through proper spatial arrangement. This study provides fundamental information that validates the macauba-grass consortium. For 20 months, during two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, microclimatic and physical variables in an Acrocomia aculeata-Brachiaria decumbens intercropping system were monitored. The spacings of the trees were 5 m × 4 m, 6 m × 4 m, 7 m × 4 m, and 8 m × 4 m and were compared to a traditional pasture. The aboveground biomass in the intercropping system was estimated as well as its ability to assimilate atmospheric CO 2 and store carbon. Macauba palm presence in the intercropping system had a regulatory effect on the microclimatic conditions of the understory, regardless of tree spacing and season. In spacing, wider, the intercropped forage biomass was satisfactory and similar to that in the monocrop pastures. The spacing 7 m × 4 m and 8 m × 4 m improved the understory microclimatic conditions, allowing efficient forage growth and thus offering livestock food and comfort. These values were equivalent to those of traditional silvopastoral systems that use woody plant species. The estimates of aboveground biomass, carbon stock, and CO 2 assimilation in the intercropping system with a spacing of 8 m × 4 m were 1.6 times greater than those of traditional pastures. Therefore, here, we show for the first time that A. aculeata-B. decumbens grass intercropping system is a viable alternative agroforestry practice for tropical regions, since sufficient amounts of fodder are provided alongside beneficial environmental services, such as the efficient sequestration and storage of atmospheric carbon.

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Section: * Primary Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viability of a macauba palm–Brachiaria grass intercropping system as an alternative to agroforestry production

Montoya

Motoike

Kuki

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Pasture traits and cattle performance in silvopastoral systems with Eucalyptus and Urochloa: Systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2022

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Effects of shading on tropical grass characteristics and cattle performance in silvopastoral systems: systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2023

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Context Shading reduces forage mass and can reduce animal production and profitability per area in silvopastoral systems (SPSs) with tropical grasses. This reduction in profitability is the main obstacle to using such systems. Aims This study evaluated the effects of shading by different tree arrangements on tropical grass characteristics and cattle performance in SPSs. Methods Systematic searches were conducted in databases and directly in scientific journals, and 66 articles were selected. Data were grouped into SPS subgroups on the basis of tree type: with Eucalyptus with 1–14 m between rows; with Eucalyptus with 15–28 m between rows; with Eucalyptus with more than 28 m between rows; with leguminous trees; with palm trees; and with other types of tree. Data were analysed with random-effects model by using mean difference with 95% confidence interval (at P = 0.05). Results A large reduction in forage mass significantly reduced animal weight gain per area and stocking rate of beef cattle reared in SPSs with row spacing of up to 28 m, compared with pasture monoculture. There was a small reduction in forage mass in SPSs with Eucalyptus with more than 28 m between rows, compared with pasture monoculture, but no reduction in stocking rate. This result allowed an increase in weight gain per area and indicated the need to use more than 28 m between Eucalyptus rows in systems the main objective of which is animal production. There was also a small reduction in forage mass in leguminous tree SPSs, but weight gain per area was similar to that in pasture monoculture; the animals also had a higher dry-matter intake, crude protein intake and milk production in these SPSs. The tropical grasses in palm tree SPSs had a higher crude protein and a lower forage mass than did those in pasture monoculture, and no reduction in weight gain per area compared with those in pasture monoculture, which indicated the possibility of productive animal production together with palm trees. The SPSs with other types of tree had a higher weight gain per area than did pasture monoculture. This result indicated that the use of SPSs with native trees can integrate animal production with environmental preservation. Conclusions The SPSs with Eucalyptus with more than 28 m between the rows or with other types of tree had a higher weight gain per area than did pasture monoculture, whereas leguminous and palm tree SPSs had a weight gain per area similar to that of pasture monoculture, which indicated that there was no significant negative effect of shading on livestock production. Implications Silvopastoral systems with higher weight gain per leaf area than, or similar to that of pasture monoculture can increase the total system production and profitability (considering wood and animal productions), which is beneficial and may be a factor in motivating producers to adopt these SPSs on commercial farms.

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Dynamics and stability of Marandu grass tillers in monocrop systems and babassu palm silvopastoral systems

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

Viability of a macauba palm–Brachiaria grass intercropping system as an alternative to agroforestry production

Viability of a macauba palm–Brachiaria grass intercropping system as an alternative to agroforestry production

Pasture traits and cattle performance in silvopastoral systems with Eucalyptus and Urochloa: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Effects of shading on tropical grass characteristics and cattle performance in silvopastoral systems: systematic review and meta-analysis

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