1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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%

11. 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 kg an-1 day-1
Silvopastoral system kg an-1 day-1

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. CMM