Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Animal performance in grass monoculture or silvopastures using tree legumes

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Silvopasture systems using tree legumes have potential to reduce C footprint of livestock systems in the tropics. This 4-year study evaluated productive responses of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) and the performance of cattle in silvopastoral systems (SPS) in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were: signal grass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.; signal grass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.); and signal grass monoculture. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Herbage mass (HM) was greater on signal grass monoculture (5057 kg DM/ha) than in mixed pastures (3292 kg DM/ha, average). There was interaction (P < 0.05) between treatment × evaluation month for HM, and the greatest value was observed in May (2722 kg DM/ha). Herbage allowance varied from 1.29 to 3.07 kg DM per kg of body weight (BW). Herbage accumulation rate varied throughout the evaluations, with the greatest rate observed in July (56 kg DM/ha per day) and the lowest in December (15 kg DM/ha per day). Average daily gain was similar across systems (0.65 kg day−1), varying according to month. Stocking rate ranged from 1.5 animal units (AU; equivalent of a 450-kg animal) per ha in December (dry season) to 2.2 AU/ha in July (rainy season). Animal performance per area tended to decrease in the SPS (411 kg BW ha−1 year−1) when compared with signal grass in monoculture (508 kg BW ha−1 year−1), especially in the Mimosa system. Adding tree legumes reduced animal performance per area due to competition between arboreal and herbaceous components, especially in the Mimosa system that had a more closed canopy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: Pernambuco State Agency for Water and Climate (Agritempo 2011)

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agritempo (2011) Sistema de Monitoramento Agrometeorológico. Disponível em http://www.agritempo.gov.br/agroclimasumario?uf=PE. Accessed 1 Aug 2018

  • Allen VG, Batello C, Berretta EJM, Hodgson J, Kothmann M, Mclivor X, Li J, Milne J, Morris C, Peeters A, Sanderson M (2011) An international terminology for grazing lands and grazing animals. Grass Forage Sci 66:2–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2010.00780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPRH – Companhia Pernambucana do Meio Ambiente (2003). Diagnostico socioambiental do Litoral Norte de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil. http://www.cprh.pe.gov.br/downloads/Folha_de_Rosto_e_Ficha_Catalografica.pdf. Accessed 13 Sept 2018

  • Apolinário VXO, Dubeux Júnior JCB, Lira MA, Ferreira RLC, Mello ACL, Santos MVF, Sampaio EVSB, Muir JP (2015) Tree legumes provide marketable wood and add nitrogen in warm-climate silvopasture systems. Agron J 107:1915–1921. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj14.0624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo RP, Almeida JCC, Araújo SSC, Ribeiro ET, Pádua FT, Carvalho CAB, Bonaparte TP, Deminics BB, Lista FN (2013) Produção e composição química de brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk em sistema silvipastoril sob diferentes espaçamentos com Eucalyptus Urophylla s.t. Blake. Rev Bras Agropec Sustent 3:90–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernadino FS, Tonucci RG, Garcia R, Neves JCL, Rocha GC (2011) Produção de forragem e desempenho de novilhos de corte em um sistema silvipastoril: efeito de doses de nitrogênio e oferta de forragem. Rev Bras Zootec 40:1412–1419. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982011000700003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalcanti Filho LFM, Santos MVF, Ferreira MA, Lira MA, Modesto EC, Dubeux Júnior JCB, Ferreira RLC, Silva MJ (2008) Caracterização da pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Arch Zootec 220:391–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Coêlho DL (2016) Características estruturais e produtivas de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. em monocultivo e em sistemas silvipastoris, na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Dissertation, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife

  • Conte O, Wesp CL, Anghinoni I, Carvalho PCS, Levien R, Nabinger C (2011) Densidade, agregação e frações de carbono de um argissolo sob pastagem natural submetida a níveis de ofertas de forragem por longo tempo. Rev Bras Ciênc Solo 35:579–587. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832011000200027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa SBM, Mello ACL, Dubeux Júnior JCB, Santos MVF, Lira MA, Oliveira JTC, Apolinário VXO (2016) Livestock performance in warm-climate silvopastures using tree legumes. Agron J 108:2026–2035. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2016.03.0180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dias-Filho MB (2011) Os desafios da produção animal em pastagens na fronteira agrícola brasileira. Rev Bras Zootec 40:243–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubeux Júnior JCB, Lira MA, Freitas EV (1997) Avaliação de pastagens de braquiárias na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Rev Bras Zootec 26:659–666

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubeux Júnior JCB, Lira MA, Santos MVF, Muir JP, Silva MA, Texeira VI, Mello AC (2014) Soil characteristics under legume and non-legume tree canopies in signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens) pastures. Afr J Range For Sci 31:37–42. https://doi.org/10.2989/10220119.2014.880746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubeux Júnior JCB, Sollenberger LE, Muir JP, Tedeschi LO, Santos MVF, Cunha MV, Mello ACL, DiLorenzo N (2017a) Sustainable intensification of livestock production on pastures. Arch Latinoam Prod Anim 25:97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubeux Júnior JCB, Muir JP, Apolinário VXO, Nair PKR, Lira MA, Sollenberger LE (2017b) Tree legumes: an underexploited resource in warm-climate silvopastures. Rev Bras Zootec 46:689–703. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-92902017000800010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haydock KP, Shaw NH (1975) The comparative yield method for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Aust J Exp Agric Anim Husb 15:663–670

    Google Scholar 

  • Lira MA, Freitas EV, Dubeux Júnior JCB, Zarate RMR, Andrade WB, Farias I (1995) Avaliação de pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. e Brachiaria Humidicola Rendle com novilhas na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Rev Bras Zootec 24:242–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Lira MA, Mello ACL, Cunha MV, Santos MVF, Dubeux Junior JCB, Lira Junior MA, Apolinário VXO (2017) Produção animal em pastagens tropicais da América Latina. Arch Latinoam Produ Anim 25(1):1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Mello ACM, Costa SBM, Dubeux Júnior JCB, Santos MVF, Apolinário VXO, Tenório Filho F, Meireles MS, Pereira CG (2014) Pasture characteristics and animal performance in a silvopastoral system with Brachiaria decumbens, Gliricidia sepium and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia. Trop Grassl-Forrajes Trop 2:85–87. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(2)85-87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendonca AVR, Carneiro JGA, Barroso DG, Santiago AR, Freitas TAS, Souza JS (2008) Desempenho de quatro espécies de Eucalyptus spp em plantios puros e consorciados com sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth) em cava de extração de argila. Rev Árvore 32:395–405. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622008000300002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller MD, Nogueira GS, Castro CRT, Paciullo DSC, Alves FF, Castro RVO, Fernandes EM (2011) Economic analysis of an agrosilvipastoral system for a mountainous area in Zona da Mata Mineira, Brazil. Pesq Agropec Bras 46:1148–1153. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2011001000005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neves FP, Carvalho PCF, Nabinge C, Jacques AVA, Carassai IJ, Tentardini F (2009) Estratégias de manejo da oferta de forragem para recria de novilhas em pastagem natural. Rev Bras Zootec 38:1532–1542. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982009000800018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira JTC, Lira MA, Santos MVF, Freire FJ, Dubeux JCB Jr, Freitas EV, Costa SBM (2018) Methodologies in the evaluation of forage mass in tree legumes. Rev Bras Ciênc Agrárias 13:e5500. https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v13i1a5500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paciullo DSC, Campos NR, Gomide CAM, Castro CRT, Tavela RC, Rosiello ROP (2008) Crescimento de capim-braquiária influenciado pelo grau de sombreamento e pela estação do ano. Pesq Agropec Bras 43:917–923. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2008000700017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paciullo DSC, Lopes FCF, Malaquias Junior JD, Viana Filho A, Rodriguez NM, Morenz NJF, Aroeira LJM (2009) Características do pasto e desempenho de novilhas em sistema silvipastoril e pastagem de braquiária em monocultivo. Pesq Agropec Bras 44:1528–1535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paciullo DSC, Gomide CAM, Castro CRT, Fernandes PB, Muller MD, Pires MFA, Fernandes EM, Xavier DF (2011) Características produtivas e nutricionais do pasto em sistema agrossilvipastoril, conforme a distância das árvores. Pesq Agropec Bras 46:1176–1183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedreira CGS (2002) Avanços metodológicos na avaliação de pastagens. In: Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Animal Sciences, Proceedings. Recife, SBZ

  • Shelton HM, Franzel S, Peters M (2005) Adoption of tropical legume technology around the world: analysis of success. Trop Grassl 39:198–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Sollenberger LE, Cherney DJR (1995) Evaluating forage production and quality, 5th edn, Chapt 7. In: Barnes RF, Nelson CJ, Miller D (eds) Forages, vol. II: the science of grassland agriculture. Iowa State University Press, pp 97–110

  • Sollenberger LE, Moore JE, Allen VG, Pedreira CGS (2005) Reporting forage allowance in grazing experiments. Crop Sci 45:896–900. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.0216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesp CL, Carvalho PCF, Conte O, Cadenazzi M, Anghiony I, Breem C (2016) Steers production in integrated crop-livestock systems: pasture management under different sward heights. Rev Ciênc Agron 18:187–194. https://doi.org/10.5935/1806-6690.20160022

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil

    Amanda Maria Gallindo dos Santos, Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos, Suellen Brandão de Miranda Costa, Diego de Lima Coêlho & Thaíse Virgínia Freire Ramos Peixôto

  2. University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, FL, USA

    José Carlos Batista Dubeux Junior & Erick Rodrigo da Silva Santos

  3. Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil

    Mario de Andrade Lira

  4. Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil

    Valéria Xavier de Oliveira Apolinário

Authors
  1. Amanda Maria Gallindo dos Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Carlos Batista Dubeux Junior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mario de Andrade Lira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Valéria Xavier de Oliveira Apolinário
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Suellen Brandão de Miranda Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Diego de Lima Coêlho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Thaíse Virgínia Freire Ramos Peixôto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Erick Rodrigo da Silva Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda Maria Gallindo dos Santos.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

dos Santos, A.M.G., Junior, J.C.B., dos Santos, M.V.F. et al. Animal performance in grass monoculture or silvopastures using tree legumes. Agroforest Syst 94, 615–626 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00431-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00431-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation