Universidade Federal de Viçosa Departamento de Zootecnia Beef Cattle Production in a Silvopastoral System in Brazilian Cerrado and its Environmental Implications Rasmo Garcia Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV Viçosa, MG, Brazil <rgarcia@ufv.br>

Comprises 1,916,900 square kilometers (740,100 sq miles) Introduction CERRADO - the largest savanna region in South America and biologically the richest savanna in all the world Comprises 1,916,900 square kilometers (740,100 sq miles) Brazilian Cerrado has more than 55% of his area disturbed (880,000 square kilometers) Typical Cerrado vegetation

Introduction Silvopastoral systems are in evidence in Brazil Degraded soils in Brazilian Cerrado: Continuous inadequate use of Cerrado vegetation with massive cutting and fire Continuous agricultural crops Continuous poor pastures management High demand for charcoal produced by Cerrado vegetation and eucalyptus forest Integration of crops, pasture and trees consist in one of the best practices to recuperate a degraded soil

Soil and Climate in Brazilian Cerrado Introduction Soil and Climate in Brazilian Cerrado Red-Yellow Latosol Red Latosol Medium texture to clayey Very low Ca, P, Mg Low K ; pH 4.5 – 5.0 Precipitation: average 1,350 mm; Dry season: May – October

Soybean in Cerrado area Degraded land of soybean cultivation Introduction Soybean in Cerrado area Degraded land of soybean cultivation

70% of the cultivated pasture area in fair or poor condition Introduction Brachiaria pasture in Cerrado 49.0 million hectare of cultivated pastures supporting a herd of 40.0 million heads, representing more than 35% of total Brazilian beef production Pasture land in very poor condition 70% of the cultivated pasture area in fair or poor condition

Forest Plantation in Cerrado 1,500,000 hectares Introduction Forest Plantation in Cerrado 1,500,000 hectares Eucalyptus is the most common tree

Establishing a silvopastoral system Beef Cattle Production in a Silvopastoral System Establishing a silvopastoral system Cultivate one or two annual crops On the lanes between the trees rows This process can reduce the establishing cost of the whole system Farmers are motivated to do by the expectation of the additional income a) first year - rice planted after establishing of eucalyptus b) second year - soybean planted in the lane where rice was harvested.

Beef cattle in a silvopastoral system Beef Cattle Production Beef cattle in a silvopastoral system Silvopastoral system: understory (Brachiaria brizantha) showing a green color even in the dry season

Research Results Bernardino et al. (2008) studied the effects of N and K fertilization on DM production of Brachiaria brizantha and the performance of beef cattle in a silvopastoral system with eucalyptus Nitrogen (75 kg ha-1) combined with K (100 kg ha-1) increased (P<.01) DM of the understory resulting in 170 kg (374 lb) of LWG per hectare. Garcia et al. (2008) studied three doses of N and two forage offers, 10% and 15%, of a pasture (Brachiaria) in a silvopastoral system with eucalyptus Nitrogen fertilization (75 kg ha-1) increased (P<.01) LWG an-1 day-1 to .480 kg (1.056 lb). Magalhães et al. (2007) in an agrosilvopastoral system found: 165 kg (366 lb) of LWG ha-1 year-1 2,100 kg (4,620 lb) of rice ha-1 1,800 kg (3,960 lb) of soybean ha-1 IRR – 19%

Comparison: LWG in a Pasture of Brachiaria Research Results Conclusions: Fertilization and stocking rate adjustments should be considered and more researches will be necessary to establish and manage the silvopastoral system. Comparison: LWG in a Pasture of Brachiaria Under full sun light - .550 kg an-1 day-1 Silvopastoral system - .480 kg an-1 day-1

Silvopastoral system with tropical forage legumes Research Results Introduction of Forage Legumes as an Alternative to the use of Inorganic Fertilizers Silvopastoral system with tropical forage legumes a) Calopogonium mucunoides b) Stylosanthes spp., in cerrado region of Minas Gerais c) Stylosanthes spp., in cerrado region of Mato Grosso do Sul

Environmental Implications Developing versus Conservation The main challenges in the preservation of Cerrado Developing versus Conservation Extensive area of native vegetation has been substituted by annual crops, cultivated pastures and reforestation. Dissemination of direct planting for annual crops in Cerrado brought enormous contribution to soil conservation. deficient soil management can result in high soil erosion 20 ton ha-1 year-1 in soybean culture contamination of water resources practicing direct planting the erosion is reduced to 3.0 ton ha-1 year-1. Heavy use of limestone and fertilizers contribute to pollute creeks and rivers. Dissemination of exotic forage grasses, “brachiaria” is prejudicial to biodiversity.

Environmental Implications Monoculture, annual crops or forest plantation, represents a risk to biodiversity and soil conservation Mosaic of eucalyptus plantations and native Cerrado vegetation as an ecological corridor (Valverde, 2006)

Environmental Implications Abusive use of herbicides contamination of lakes and rivers Eucalyptus plantations at high densities affects insect population tree-forage combinations and spacial arrangements provide greater diversity and complexity than monoculture systems Ants control cause great effect in reducing bird populations generally eucalyptus tree need a severe control of ants Presence of understory protect the soil from wind erosion add organic matter to improve soil properties control water erosion by the reduction of rain impact on soil increase water infiltration

Silvopastoral systems offer several environmental benefits: Final Considerations Silvopastoral systems offer several environmental benefits: Potential of carbon sequestration Soil erosion control Improve soil fertility Minimization of adverse effects of climate Reduction of native forest cuttings and potential for regenerate degraded pastures Reduce the use of herbicides and insecticides that have high effect on water quality and biodiversity

<rgarcia@ufv.br> Thank you Prof. Rasmo Garcia <rgarcia@ufv.br>

CMM