Soil acidification and basic cation use efficiency in an integrated no-till crop–livestock system under different grazing intensities

Carmona³

et al. 2020

Agronomy Journal

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Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLSs) appear as a good alternative to increase nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through the improvement in nutrient cycling and soil chemical attributes in paddy fields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an ICLS on soil chemical attributes and on the fertilization requirement of N, P, and K by flooded rice in the Brazilian subtropical region. Nutritional status, yield, and NUE of flooded rice were evaluated by fertilization trials through rice response to different fertilization rates of N, P, and K. Soil chemical attributes were evaluated at the beginning of the experiment and 30 mo later.Different fertilization rates were applied in two systems: (a) a conventional system (CS), based on intensive tillage, rice monocropping and winter fallow, and (b) ICLS, characterized by no-tillage and winter cattle grazing in annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture. Rice shoot accumulation of N, P, and K was greater under CS than ICLS at all fertilization levels. On the other hand, higher rice yields were observed under ICLS at almost every fertilization level, suggesting higher NUE than CS. In addition, rice yield was increased by 40% by fertilization of P and K under CS, whereas no response was observed under ICLS. These benefits were possibly related to greater nutrient cycling and greater synchronism between rice's nutrient uptake and nutrient release of the soil. Our results indicate that the adoption of ICLS ensures greater NUE becoming a system less dependent on external inputs.Abbreviations: CEC, cation exchange capacity; CS, conventional system; ICLS, integrated crop-livestock system; NUE, nutrient use efficiency; SOM, soil organic matter.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Integrated crop–livestock systems in paddy fields: New strategies for flooded rice nutrition

Denardin

Carmona³

et al. 2020

Agronomy Journal

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“…With regard to soil chemical properties, soil total organic carbon and nitrogen and particulate organic carbon and nitrogen all have been shown to increase in the moderately grazed vs. ungrazed system (Assmann et al 2014). Furthermore, acidity declines more after liming in moderately grazed systems, while basic cation use efficiency increases (Martins et al 2014b). Evidence of soil biological responses to grazing in this system has been seen in increased microbial functional diversity and decreased microbial activity in grazed compared with ungrazed plots (Chávez et al 2011), although seasonal dynamics in microbial biomass C, N, and P are similar between the two systems (Souza et al 2010a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Winter grazing does not affect soybean yield despite lower soil water content in a subtropical crop-livestock system

Peterson

Nunes

et al. 2019

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Commercial-scale integrated crop-livestock systems intensify land use by combining complementary agricultural enterprises and leveraging synergistic ecosystem services to achieve both productive and environmental outcomes. Although widely implemented in southern Brazil as an annual beef/soybean rotation, tradeoffs such as competing soil water use between pasture and crop phases may result from seasonal grazing in this system. We compared soil water and plant physiological variables in the crop phase of an integrated annual beef-soybean system managed with no-till and best grazing practices with those of an ungrazed cover crop control as part of a long-term experiment in southern Brazil. A mixed black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was either grazed by beef cattle to 20-cm sward height or left as an ungrazed cover crop in the winter, and direct-planted to soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) in the summer. Although soybean yields did not differ between grazed and ungrazed treatments, soil matric potential was on average 25% lower across depths and growth stages in plots that had been grazed during winter. Soybeans in grazed plots also exhibited up to 34% lower light-use efficiency and a 2-week slower time to physiological maturation than soybeans in plots that had not been previously grazed. These results describe for the first time the differential crop growing conditions and crop physiological responses created after 16 years of integration with grazing animals. As integrated crop-livestock systems grow in importance in commercial production settings, this research can inform adaptive management practices to ensure the sustainability of these systems into the future and under a variety of environmental conditions.

“…of Mg for G10, G20, and NG, respectively, with the highest non-productive losses for the NG treatment (approximately 272 and 140 kg ha -1 yr -1 for Ca and Mg, respectively) (Martins et al, 2014). Thus, although the quantities of Ca and Mg cycled were greater under NG than in G20 and G10 (Table 2), this difference does not necessarily maintain greater quantity in the overall soil-animal-plant system.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…However, in another study, leaves contained greater Ca than Mg, while stems had lower Ca than Mg (Laredo and Minson, 1975). Furthermore, in this study, differences in plant (soybean and pasture) Ca and Mg residue concentrations were moderate since grazing affects soil-exchangeable Ca and Mg contents, with lower contents under NG conditions (Martins et al, 2014;Martins et al, 2016). However, soil Ca and Mg contents were greater than the threshold values considered by the CQFS-RS/SC (2004), and, therefore, not likely limiting to plant nutrition.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

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Calcium and Magnesium Released from Residues in an Integrated Crop-Livestock System under Different Grazing Intensities

Assmann

Anghinoni

et al. 2017

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

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Under integrated crop-livestock production systems (ICLS), plant and animal residues are important nutrient stocks for plant growth. Grazing management, by affecting the numbers of both plants and animals and the quality of residues, will influence nutrient release rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of grazing intensity on Ca and Mg release from pasture, dung, and soybean residues in a long-term no-till integrated soybean-cattle system. The experiment was established in May 2001 in a Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (Rhodic Hapludox). Treatments were a gradient of grazing intensity, determined by managing a black oat + Italian ryegrass pasture at 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm grazing height and no-grazing (NG), followed by soybean cropping. Ca and Mg release rates were determined in two entire cycles (2009/11). Moderate grazing (20 and 30 cm sward height) led to greater Ca and Mg release rates from pasture and dung residues, with low average half-life values (13 and 3 days for Ca and 16 and 6 days for Mg for pasture and dung, respectively). Grazing compared with NG resulted in greater Ca and Mg release from pasture and dung residues. Grazing intensity did not affect Ca and Mg release rates or amounts from soybean residues, but Ca and Mg release rates were greater from soybean leaves than from stems. Although moderate grazing intensities produce higher quality residues and higher calcium and magnesium release rates, a higher total nutrient amount is released by light grazing intensity and no-grazing, determined by higher residue production. Grazing intensity is, then, important for nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-animal continuum.