Sustainable Use of Grassland Resources for Improved Livelihoods

Grasslands occupy about 80% of global agricultural land and represent a wide range of ecosystems (Bosi et al., 2020). Pastureland represents approximately 889 million ha in Africa, followed by China (~506 million ha), Oceania (~345 million ha), Asia (~307 million ha, excluding China and India), United States (~252 million ha) and Brazil (~149 million ha) (Goldewijk et al. 2017; Bosi et al. 2020; Landau et al., 2020). Rangelands alone are the world largest land surface, and in 28 countries they represent more than 60 percent of total land area (FAO, 2009). The livelihoods of almost one billion people depend on grassland, thus improved management of grasslands is key to food production and sustainable development in many countries (FAO, 2009). In general, animal production based on pastures is less geographically constrained than crop production and may occur in more diverse types of environmental conditions (Roser and Ritchie, 2019). However, in the face of world human population growing expectancies in the next few decades, the pressure for more animal products, such as milk and beef, will increase. Production will have to increase 57% for beef and 48% for milk by 2050 compared to that in 2005, as projected by FAO (Alexandratos and Bruinsma, 2012), while other estimates indicate that the global demand for livestock products will double by 2050 (Bajželj et al., 2014; Rao et al., 2015). This higher production needs to consider scenarios where land for pastures may have to be reduced in response to a number of reasons, as has been happening in Brazil (Martha Jr. et al., 2012; Landau et al., 2020), which, in turn will demand greater productivity per area

Brazilian Agroforestry Systems for Cattle and Sheep

Agroforestry systems for animal husbandry, including integrated crop-livestock-forest systems (ICLF) are rather diversified in the five Brazilian regions. They present several technical, environmental and socioeconomic benefits. However they are not broadly adopted, mainly because of their higher complexity compared with traditional systems as well as a certain lack of understanding by farmers regarding their benefits. To change this situation, in the last five years, the Brazilian government has directed financial resources for credit as well as for research and technology transfer addressing ICLF systems, including good agricultural practices and mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions. The goal is to improve competitiveness of the Brazilian agribusiness sector

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Nitrogen Fertilizer in Forage Grasses

There is a concern about the growing population and limitation in natural resources which are taking the population to direct its agricultural systems into a more productive and efficient activity, looking to avoid a negative impact on the surrounding environment. The industry energy expended to produce nitrogen (N)-fertilizer is considered an indirect consumption of energy in agriculture, which is higher with an increasing forage yield. Nitrogen is the key nutrient associated with high-yielding production in forage grass and grain crops. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the best management practices (BMPs) for N-fertilizer application in forage grasses to improve N-use efficiency, since the most economical way to feed livestock is forage plants where its potential biomass production is not well explored. The BMPs basically follow three management practices: (1) soil nutrient availability and forage requirement, (2) fertilizer application, and (3) decrease in nutrient losses from soil. In order to take a decision on applying N-fertilizer to accomplish forage grasses production with social, economic, and environmental benefits, the N-fertilizer use in forage grasses is going to follow the “Right rate, Right source, Right place, and Right time (4R) nutrient stewardship.” The application of the 4R’s nutrients stewardship is directly associated with economic, social, and environmental impact. The capacity of the 4R’s implementation worldwide turns into a best guide to improve the striving of better N-use efficiency in forage grass. The 4R’s are interrelated; thus, the recommendation of N-fertilizer rates cannot be prescribed without the combination of the 4R’s where a whole system to be followed should be considered to decide about N-fertilizer in pasture. Consequently, any decision in one of the 4R’s is going to affect the expected N-fertilizer results and dry matter production

Energy Resolution Performance of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The energy resolution performance of the CMS lead tungstate crystal electromagnetic calorimeter is presented. Measurements were made with an electron beam using a fully equipped supermodule of the calorimeter barrel. Results are given both for electrons incident on the centre of crystals and for electrons distributed uniformly over the calorimeter surface. The electron energy is reconstructed in matrices of 3 times 3 or 5 times 5 crystals centred on the crystal containing the maximum energy. Corrections for variations in the shower containment are applied in the case of uniform incidence. The resolution measured is consistent with the design goals

Evaluation of Brachiaria pastures associated to stylosanthes, under three stocking rates, in the Brazilian Savanna

O trabalho foi conduzido na Embrapa Gado de Corte, localizada em Campo Grande, MS, com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito de três taxas de lotação (0,8; 1,2; e 1,6 UA/ha), em pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens x Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão e de B. brizantha cv. Marandu x S. guianensis cv. Mineirão, sobre as características estruturais e quantitativas, o valor nutritivo e a composição botânica da forragem; o consumo, a composição botânica e o valor nutritivo da dieta dos animais em pastejo; e a produção por animal e por área, visando sugerir o manejo mais adequado. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com os tratamentos no esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com duas repetições. Os tratamentos das parcelas constituíram um fatorial 2x3, sendo duas gramíneas (B. decumbens e B. brizantha cv. Marandu) em consorciação com S. guianensis cv. Mineirão e três taxas de lotação (0,8; 1,2; e 1,6 UA/ha), e das subparcelas, os meses de amostragem. As amostragens foram realizadas em julho e outubro de 1998, correspondendo à época seca, e em janeiro e abril de 1999, correspondendo à época das águas, durante o terceiro ciclo de pastejo. Foram utilizados bezerros Nelore, desmamados, com peso vivo médio de 138,06 kg, no início do experimento. A disponibilidade de matéria seca (MS) das pastagens consorciadas com B. brizantha não variou entre épocas, com valor médio de 3470 kg/ha de MS, enquanto, para as pastagens com B. decumbens, a média para o período das águas (3485 kg/ha de MS) foi superior à do período seco (3056 kg/ha de MS). Entretanto, a disponibilidade da fração verde da gramínea, que se correlacionou com o consumo, foi influenciada negativamente pela taxa de lotação. Durante a época das águas, verificou-se maior proporção de gramínea, em detrimento da leguminosa, para uma taxa de lotação estimada de 1,17 UA/ha. As pastagens com B. decumbens apresentaram, de modo geral, melhor valor nutritivo do que as pastagens com B. brizantha, associado com maior presença de leguminosa. O consumo diário de MS foi maior em pastagens com B. brizantha, em outubro (seca) e em abril (águas), entretanto não foi suficiente para superar os ganhos por animal observados nas pastagens com B. decumbens. As dietas foram constituídas por mais de 80% de folhas de gramíneas, enquanto a participação da leguminosa foi de apenas 2,1%, com um índice de seleção de 0,08, indicando rejeição deste componente da pastagem, por parte dos animais em pastejo. O ganho de peso vivo médio diário (GPD) dos animais foi influenciado pela gramínea, pela época do ano e pela taxa de lotação. As pastagens com B. decumbens proporcionaram maior GPD do que as pastagens com B. brizantha (409 x 333 g/novilho.dia). Na época das águas, foi observado maior GPD do que na seca, 490 e 194 g/novilho.dia, respectivamente. Houve decréscimo linear do GPD com o aumento da taxa de lotação, estimando- se valores de 435, 371 e 308 g/novilho.dia para as taxas de 0,8; 1,2; e 1,6 UA/ha, respectivamente. Houve influência da gramínea e da época do ano sobre o ganho de peso por área. As pastagens com B. decumbens proporcionaram maior produção por área do que aquelas com B. brizantha, com ganhos de peso vivo de 464 e 352 kg/ha.ano, respectivamente. Durante a época das águas, a produção por área foi maior do que na seca, com valores médios de 331 e 77 kg/ha.ano, respectivamente. Não houve influência da taxa de lotação sobre a produção por área, com valores observados de 349, 464 e 411 kg/ha, para as taxas de 0,8; 1,2; e 1,6 UA/ha. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que, durante o terceiro ciclo de pastejo: (1) as consorciações de B. brizantha com S. guianensis cv. Mineirão apresentaram menor porcentagem de leguminosa; (2) as pastagens consorciadas com B. decumbens proporcionaram maior produção animal do que as pastagens com B. brizantha, devido ao melhor valor nutritivo da forragem disponível, associado à maior presença de leguminosa na pastagem; (3) a leguminosa foi pouco consumida pelos animais, sendo as dietas constituídas por mais de 80% de folhas de gramínea; e (4) a taxa de lotação influenciou negativamente a disponibilidade da fração verde da gramínea e, conseqüentemente, os ganhos por animal, com tendência de efeito quadrático sobre a produção animal por área, indicando que a taxa de lotação mais adequada estaria entre 1,25 e 1,30 UA/ha.This work was carried out at Embrapa Gado de Corte, at Campo Grande, MS, to evaluate Brachiaria decumbens x Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão e de B. brizantha cv. Marandu x S. guianensis cv. Mineirão pastures under three stocking rates (0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 AU/ha), on the structural and quantitative characteristics, the nutritive values and botanical composition of forage; the intake, botanical composition and nutritive value of the grazing animals diets; and the production per animal and area, in order to suggest the most adequate managing. A randomized block in a split-plot design with two replicates was used. The plots treatments were constituted of a 2x3 factorial, two grasses (Brachiaria decumbens and B. brizantha cv. Marandu) associated with Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão and three stocking rates (0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 AU/ha), and the split-plot as sampling months. The samplings were carried out from July to October 1998, corresponding to the dry season, and from January to April 1999, corresponding to the rainy season, during the third grazing cycle. Weaned Nellore steers (average initial weight of 138.06 kg), in the beginning of the experiment, were used. Dry matter availability of mixed pastures of B. brizantha did not change during the seasons, with average value of 3470 kg/ha DM, while for B. decumbens pastures the average dry matter availability for the rainy period (3485 kg/ha DM) was higher than in the dry period (3056 kg/ha DM). However, the green fraction availability of the grass, that was associated with intake, was negatively affected by the stocking rate. During the rainy season, it was observed higher grass proportion, compared to legume, for an estimated stocking rate of 1.17 AU/ha. The B. decumbens pastures showed better nutritive value than B. brizantha pasture, associated with the higher legume presence. The daily DM intake was higher in B. brizantha pasture, in October (dry) and in April (rainy), but it was not enough to increase the animal production observed in the B. decumbens pastures. The diets were consisted of more than de 80% grass leaves and the legume participation was of only 2.1%, with a selection index of 0.08, indicating rejection of this pasture component, by the grazing animals. The average daily live weight (DLW) of animals was influenced by the grass, the year season and stocking rate. The B. decumbens pastures showed higher DLW than B. brizantha pastures (409 x 333 g/steer.d). During the rainy season, ot was observed higher DLW than in the dry one, 490 e 194 g/steer.d, respectively. There was linear DLW decrease as the stocking rate increased, and values of 435, 371 and 308 g/steer.d for the stocking rates of 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 AU/ha, respectively, were estimated. The weight gain/area was affected by the grass and year season. The B. decumbens pastures showed higher production per area than the B. brizantha pastures, with live weight gains of 464 and 352 kg/ha.year, respectively. During the rainy season, the production per area was higher than in the dry one, with average values of 331 and 77 kg/ha.ano, respectively. The production per area was not affected by the stocking rate, with average values of 349, 464 and 411 kg/ha, for the stocking rates of 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 AU/ha. It was concluded that, during the third grazing cycle: (1) the B. brizantha association with S. guianensis cv. Mineirão showed less legume percentage; (2) the pastures associated with B. decumbens showed higher animal productio than the B. brizantha pastures, because of the better nutritive value of the available forage and also the presence of legume in the pasture; (3) the legume was less intake by the animals, and the diets were consisted of more than 80% of grass leaves; and (4) the grass green fraction availability and, consequently, the animal gain were negatively affected by the stocking rate, with tendency of quadract effect on the animal production per area, indicating that the most adequate stocking rate would range from 1,25 to 1,30 AU/ha.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológic

Economic And Socio-Environmental Impact Assessment Of A Silvopastoral System In Mato Grosso Do Sul State, Brazil

Silvopastoral systems, also known in Brazil as Integrated Livestock-Forestry Systems (ILFS), are a promising alternative for marginal agricultural areas in Mato Grosso do Sul state. This paper analysed the economic viability of a representative ILFS in the state Central-East region and, using Ambitec-Agro model, assessed the associated socio-environmental impacts. We used panel data with experts to build an eight-year cash flow used in follow-up investment analysis and found ILFS was more economically attractive then extensive beef systems (BF), typical in poor soil regions. However, implementation costs and uneven distribution of income over the years can be detrimental to adoption by some farmer groups. Results showed an improvement of several socio-environmental indicators by replacing BF for ILFS. Policymakers should account for those economic barriers when developing supporting strategies for farmers and should also promote specific initiatives to stimulate the forestry sector, in general, and Silvopastoral systems specifically, in other marginal areas of Mato Grosso do Sul state

Is the ‘‘F Word’’ an option for Brazilian farmers? The place of forestry in future integrated farming systems

This study analyses the economic viability of forestry in integrated farming systems (IFS) in Brazil. A 12-year cash flow was built with both experimental data and estimates for three IFS in the Savannah region: ICL (crops + cattle); ICLF1 (ICL + 227 eucalyptus trees/ha); and ICLF2 (ICL + 357 eucalyptus trees/ha). Investment analysis showed all IFS were viable, but ICL was more profitable than ICLF, due to occasional high crops and beef prices and low wood prices in 2016. In extreme scenarios, i.e. all commodities prices were high (SCE I) or all low (SCE II), results remained the same. However, an alternative, most likely, scenario (SCE III) showed ICLF were more economically recommended than ICL, as beef and crop prices dropped and wood prices increased, which is expected because of commodities price volatility. Thus, the introduction of forestry in future IFS is economically viable, although market risks remain. Further adoption of IFS with trees relies on innovative and follower farmers, with strong support of R&D, technology transfer programmes and IFS policies