Silvopasture in the Caatinga biome of Brazil: A review of its ecology, management, and development opportunities

Pinheiro, Felipe M.; Nair, P. K. R.

doi:10.5424/fs/2018271-12267

Cited by 37 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The values of AGB in SPS (7.5–29.8 Mg ha −1 ) are found within the range reported in previous studies (Andrade, Brook, & Ibrahim, 2008; Casals, Romero, Rusch, & Ibrahim, 2014; Dube et al, 2011; López‐Santiago et al, 2019; Pinheiro & Nair, 2018; Soto‐Pinto, Anzueto, Mendoza, Ferrer, & de Jong, 2010). DT silvopasture stored more biomass compared to LF (Table 1) due to the presence of larger trees per hectare.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Carbon contents and fine root production in tropical silvopastoral systems

et al. 2020

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Owing to the increasing extension of land for livestock production, silvopastoral practices have been among the promising approaches to enhance carbon (C) sequestration. However, the extent of C sequestration in different silvopastoral systems (SPS) and their relationship with fine root production (FRP) is not well understood. The objective of this research was to evaluate the changes in C storage, FRP, and turnover in a part of tropical SPS. We evaluated above‐ and belowground C storage, FRP and turnover in live fences (LF), dispersed tree (DT) silvopasture, and compared these with open pasturelands (OP) in Southeastern Mexico. We applied the stock change approach to calculate biomass growth rates and the ingrowth monolith method for FRP. Biomass stocks in the same plots are re‐measured over time in the stock change approach. Woody biomass stocks differed significantly between SPS (DT: 37.2, LF: 9.8 Mg ha−1) and the accumulation rates in both SPS were significantly higher than zero (0.2–2.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1). Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents were significantly higher in SPS (LF: 2.4%, DT: 3.1%) compared to OP (1.6%). FRP significantly differed between SPS (LF: 27.8, DT: 45.4, and OP: 9.4 g m−2 yr−1) and correlated positively with SOC content. Higher SOC reduced soil compaction in silvopastoral lands as indicated by lower soil bulk density. The results on C stocks change and fine root dynamics contribute to understanding C sequestration potential of tropical SPS, identifying ecologically sound strategies to mitigate greenhouse gases from the livestock sector, and aid restoration of ecosystem services for degraded pasturelands.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Carbon contents and fine root production in tropical silvopastoral systems

et al. 2020

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“…Integrated farming systems, such as silvopastoral systems (SPS), in which trees or shrub‐tree species are intercropped into pastures with the presence of livestock, increase the biodiversity and multifunctionality of land compared to traditional livestock systems (TLS), based on low‐productive pastures with extensive grazing (Mauricio et al, 2019; Pinheiro & Nair, 2018). The ecological interactions promoted by SPS have resulted in increased yield (biomass, meat, and milk) per unit area, improved resource use efficiency, and enhanced provision of ecosystem services (Chará et al, 2018 ; Jose & Dollinger, 2019), becoming an interesting strategy to recover degraded areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring soil carbon and chemical properties through silvopastoral adoption in the Colombian Amazon region

et al. 2020

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Silvopastoral systems (SPS) have been widely implemented in the Colombian Amazon region to improve pastures involving a greater diversity of species, soil tillage, fertilization, and higher stocking rate, which can induce changes in soil properties and functions. This study aimed to evaluate soil chemical properties and carbon sequestration changes due to the transition from traditional pastures to silvopastoral systems. The study was conducted in the Colombian Amazon region, specifically in La Montañita and El Doncello Counties, in Caquetá, the second most important hotspot of deforestation in the entire Amazon basin. In each study site, we established a chronosequence consisting of three areas following the typical land‐use change at the region: (i) native vegetation, (ii) traditional pasture, and (iii) silvopastoral system. We found that agricultural practices involving liming and tillage, performed under the silvopastoral management, contributed to reducing soil active acidity and exchangeable acidity with soil pH increasing from 3.8 to 4.3 and H++Al3+ decreasing from 5.8 to 2.3 cmolc kg−1. These alterations favored increases in Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents mainly, increasing the base saturation from 17% in traditional pastures to 55% under silvopastoral systems. The synergic effect of the mix of grasses and trees under silvopastoral management improved soil micronutrient contents and modified soil C stocks in 20–30 cm layer. A rate of soil C accretion of 0.26 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the 0–30 cm detected in silvopastoral systems suggests that its implementation could be a promising tool for C sequestration in tropical regions, capable of restoring soil functioning of degraded areas.

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“…Several alternatives have been suggested to recover degraded lands in Brazil, including the adoption of silvopastoral systems. 5,6 Livestock activities result in large quantities of bones; recycling of these bones may have the potential in tropical systems to increase P availability in soils for better plant growth. Approximately 680,000 tons of bones from beef cattle were discarded in 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of bonechar as a soil amendment in tropical soils

Pinheiro¹,

Nair²

2021

HIJ

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Tropical soils usually lack phosphorus (P) availability due to the high P retention associated with these soils, limiting plant productivity. Brazil is the largest tropical country and worldwide exporter of beef, where overgrazing and frequent slash and burn practices resulted in large areas of degraded pastures. Land degradation and lack of releasable P could potentially be solved using a byproduct of livestock activities-bones-with high P content. The present work evaluates an industrial bonechar (obtained by the pyrolysis of bones) for its potential as a soil amendment. The bonechar's structure and chemical composition were evaluated by using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and chemical analyses. The results showed that: i) bonechar is composed mainly of the mineral hydroxyapatite, known to bond with organic molecules of different sizes, which could increase the soil organic carbon stock, and ii) the plant available P in the bonechar is high, 2,800 mg kg -1 . Although more studies are needed on bonechar, mainly on its field application, the present work reinforces the production and agricultural use of it as a relevant soil amendment to recover degraded soils in tropical regions.

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Silvopasture in the Caatinga biome of Brazil: A review of its ecology, management, and development opportunities

Cited by 37 publications

References 35 publications

Carbon contents and fine root production in tropical silvopastoral systems

Carbon contents and fine root production in tropical silvopastoral systems

Restoring soil carbon and chemical properties through silvopastoral adoption in the Colombian Amazon region

Characterization of bonechar as a soil amendment in tropical soils

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