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- Title
Livestock Performance in Warm-Climate Silvopastures Using Tree Legumes.
- Authors
de M. Costa, Suellen B.; de Mello, Alexandre C. L.; Dubeux, Jr., José C. B.; dos Santos, Mércia V. F.; de A. Lira, Mario; Oliveira, João T. C.; Apolinário, Valéria X. O.
- Abstract
Tree legumes are a viable option to increase ecosystem services provided by warm-climate grasslands. Benefits of using tree legumes in silvopasture systems (SPS) include the provision of shade for livestock, biological N2 fixation, and C sequestration. This study assessed cattle performance and pasture characteristics in signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) pastures in monoculture or in SPS. The following treatments were assessed: (i) signalgrass/sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.), (ii) signalgrass/gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.], and (iii) signalgrass monoculture. Crossbred steers were managed under continuous stocking and variable stocking rates. Response variables included herbage mass, herbage allowance, stocking rate, average daily gain (ADG), gain per area (GPA), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and crude protein (CP). Total signalgrass herbage mass in monoculture (5091 kg DM ha-1) was greater (P ≤ 0.05) compared with SPS (3964 kg DM ha-1). Green signalgrass herbage mass, however, was greater (P ≤ 0.05) for SPS (2237 kg DM ha-1) compared with monoculture (1934 kg DM ha-1). Herbage allowance, IVDMD, CP, stocking rate, ADG, and GPA did not differamong treatments, with average values of 2.9 kg-1 green herbage mass (DM) kg-1 live weight; 633 g kg-1Tree legumes are a viable option to increase ecosystem services >, 55 g kg-1, 1.9 animal units (AU) ha-1 (1 AU = 450 kg live weight); 0.57 kg-1 AU-1 d-1; and 30 kg ha-1 28 d-1, respectively. During the establishment phase (3 yr), SPS with tree legumes can produce as much livestock gain as signalgrass in monoculture, providing other ecosystem services and marketable products, increasing land use efficiency.
- Subjects
SILVOPASTORAL systems; LEGUMES; LIVESTOCK; DRY matter in animal nutrition; MONOCULTURE agriculture
- Publication
Agronomy Journal, 2016, Vol 108, Issue 5, p2026
- ISSN
0002-1962
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2134/agronj2016.03.0180