Forage and animal production on palisadegrass pastures growing in monoculture or as a component of integrated crop–livestock–forestry systems

Abstract

To meet the global demand for animal protein, sustainable intensification of existing livestock systems may be possible, especially through integration of livestock with crops or forestry. Thus, our objective was to compare forage production and animal performance in grass monoculture and integrated systems in the Brazilian Amazon biome. The four systems were (a) livestock (L) with Marandu palisadegrass {Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster} as monoculture, (b) palisadegrass pastures integrated with eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus urograndis; hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake) arranged in three‐row groves with groves spaced 30 m apart (livestock–forestry; LF), (c) palisadegrass after two years of crops (crop–livestock; CL) and (d) palisadegrass after two years of crops with single rows of eucalyptus trees spaced 37 m apart (crop–livestock–forestry; CLF). From July 2016 to July 2017, all experimental units were continuously stocked using a variable stocking rate. Greater herbage accumulation (HA) occurred in CL and CLF in comparison with L and LF (21,310, 24,050, 19,500 and 18,890 kg DM/ha respectively). The gain per hectare of L, LF and CL (average of 932 kg ha–1) was less than CLF (1,190 kg ha–1). Average daily gain was similar among systems (0.69 kg/day). We conclude that integrated systems can support similar (LF or CL) or greater (CLF) levels of animal production than palisadegrass monocultures while increasing diversity of outputs, thereby providing a greater range of viable systems for livestock production in the Brazilian Amazon biome.

Herbage accumulation, canopy characteristics, and nutritive value of tropical grasses in the Amazon biome

“…The C4 grasses reach maximum growth around 30–35 °C (Moore, Boote, & Sanderson, 2004), so there was no temperature limitation to forage growth in our study and the seasonality of HA and HAR can be attributed to water availability (Figure 1) (Euclides, Montagner, Barbosa, & Nantes, 2014) for all grasses. During the rainy season, HA and HAR were greater than in the dry season for all grasses, with 70% of production occurring during the rainy season and 30% in the dry season (Table 3), highlighting the similar seasonality among grasses (Carvalho et al., 2019). In the dry season, HA and HAR were similar for all grasses except for Tupi in the first‐year dry season.…”

“…Guará presented total annual HA similar to Marandu in the first year and similar to Tupi in the second year when there was a 30% reduction in Marandu total annual HA (Table 2). This reduction in the Marandu total annual HA likely can be attributed to spittlebug ( Cercopoidea ) damage (Carvalho et al., 2019) and limited oxygen availability in the soil (Mass et al., 2016). In the Amazon biome, the spittlebug is abundant during the rainy season as a result of greater temperature and precipitation (Paraiso et al., 2019).…”

Variáveis morfométricas de quatro espécies florestais em sistema silvipastoril no município de Belterra, Pará

“…Os sistemas silvipastoris são uma das modalidades dos SAF que integram árvores ou arbustos com pastagens e gado, apresentando uma forma de cultivo bem mais complexa que o monocultivo de pastagens ou florestas plantadas, tendo por finalidade auferir produtos ou serviços dos três componentes (Kumar & Nair, 2011;Carvalho et al, 2019). A introdução do componente pastoril pode aumentar a sustentabilidade desses sistemas, gerando benefícios que ocorrem em via de mão dupla, com o componente animal promovendo benefícios diretos e indiretos para o componente arbóreo, seja pelo pastejo ou deposição de excreta, e contrapartida o componente florestal fornece conforto térmico que se refle em menor estresse e maior produção animal (Anjos et al, 2021).…”

Floristic diversification of spreading liverseed grass pasture according to different cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation

“…The increased world population and, consequently, the demand for food require intense changes in the agricultural sector, including greater diversification and production efficiency (Röös et al, 2017). However, these changes must occur while addressing environmental issues related to the use of good agricultural practices aimed at maximum utilization of areas considered degraded, without compromising the environment (Carvalho et al, 2019).…”