Shading effect on microclimate and thermal comfort indexes in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems in the Brazilian Midwest

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to perform a microclimate evaluation and determine the indexes of thermal comfort indexes, in sun and shade, in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems with different arrangements of eucalyptus and native trees, in the Brazilian Midwest. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Beef Cattle in Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from July to September 2013. The evaluations were conducted on four consecutive days, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time (GMT -4:00), with 1 hour intervals, recording the microclimate parameters: air temperature (°C), black globe temperature (°C), wet bulb temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), and wind speed (m.s), for the subsequent calculation of the Temperature and Humidity Index, the Black Globe Temperature and Humidity Index, and the Radiant Thermal Load. The largest changes in microclimate parameters were found in the full sun, between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., in less dense eucalyptus system, followed by the scattered native trees system, resulting in a maximum Temperature and Humidity Index of 81, Black Globe Temperature and Humidity Index of 88 and Radiant Thermal Load of 794 W m. Therefore, it is observed that with the presence of trees in pastures were possible reductions of up to 3.7 % in Temperature and Humidity Index, 10.2 % in the Black Globe Temperature and Humidity Index, and 28.3 % of the Radiant Thermal Load in the shade. Thus, one can conclude that the presence of trees and their arrangement in the systems provide better microclimate conditions and animal thermal comfort in pastures.

Measuring Individual Tree Diameter and Height Using GatorEye High-Density UAV-Lidar in an Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest System

“…In January of 2017, Brazil launched its National Plan for the Recovery of Native Vegetation [3] to promote forest restoration programs and actions. Besides that, another incentive by the Brazilian government is the Low Carbon Agriculture (LCA) program, which promotes research and extension projects, as well as offering credit lines to finance costs related to the implementation/maintenance of integrated crop-livestock and forest system (iCLF) [4][5][6][7]. These systems deserve to be highlighted as an attractive strategy for restoration [8].…”

Behavior of Pantaneira and Girolando Heifers Reared on Pastures in the Four Seasons of the Year

“…Girolando animals remaining in shades of Mangifera indica in the spring during 64.7% of the 24 hours daily (932.8 min) (Table 3). Karvette et al (2016) reported that the tree canopy can reduce by up to 28.3% the thermal radiation load. According to Biavatti, Berber and Berber (2014), shade in grazing paddocks decreases the animals' thermal stress by providing a better thermal comfort, and increase the animal production.…”

“…Thus, when the external temperature is high, this mechanism becomes ineffective and the animals are subjected to a thermal stress, with profound physiological and behavioral changes and significant reduction in food consumption and zootechnical performance. Shadowed areas are required for animals, even in regions with average temperatures below ºC, to mitigate the negative effects of ultraviolet rays; these shadows can be natural or artificial (RODRIGUES;SOUZA;PEREIRA FILHO, 2010;KARVETTE et al, 2016).…”

Arboreal/Arbustive Component Associated to Livestock Systems in San Vicente del Caguán Municipality, Caquetá—Colombia

“…Indeed, this stress has acute effects on cattle welfare, therefore on its productivity either [52]. Thus, a way for lessening such effects is shade usage through the integration of trees to pastures in silvopastoral systems [53] [54], contributing to good welfare for animals [54] [55].…”