Silvopastoral Systems Ecological Strategy for Decreases C Footprint in Livestock Systems of Piedmont (Meta), Colombia

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate different pastures types on carbon footprint (CF). The cattle in the Piedmont zone, Cumaral, Meta, Colombia are principally Brahman, the pastures are formed with the tropical forage grasses Brachiaria decumbens for improved pastures (IP) and degraded pastures of B. brizantha (DP), also, various silvopastoral systems (SPSs) depending of planting trees on pasture at the same time and in the same space were evaluated. GHG emissions per kg of live weight (LW) were estimated to be reduced from 9.14, and 7.17 to 4.4 kgCO2eq.kgLW-1 in SPSs, and IP to DP, respectively. In all systems the largest GHG emission were enteric fermentation CH4, manure management N2O, feed animal management CO2. Soil C sequestration rates ranged from 2.46 to -1.72 tCO2.ha-1.yr-1 in DP to SPSs, respectively, IP account for -1.35tCO2eq.ha-1yr-1. CF were neutralized from 8.12 to -11.6 kg CO2eq.kg LW-1 in DP to IP. The beef production system with the lowest CF studied were that based on SPSs, mainly B. decumbens associated with Acacia mangium, accounting -60 kg CO2eq.kgLW-1. In our study, all other SPSs had a very large impact on negative CF, due to differences in C stored in biomass that would account for GHG neutralization of -15.3, -21.8, -24.31, -20.42 kg CO2eq.kgLW-1 in SPSs of B. decumbens + Gliricidia sepium, B. decumbens + Mangifera indica, B. decumbens + G. angustifolia and B. decumbens + citrus cinensis, respectively. It is possible to neutralize CF in beef cattle production through several SPSs in Piedmont’s case study