Theme 1: Grassland Ecology
Description
Sustainable intensification of livestock systems implies greater efficiency in resource utilization resulting in greater output of products and other ecosystem services per unit of resource input. Strategies to improve resource use efficiency include diversification of plant and ruminant species with complementary resource use. Forages that have root systems with contrasting architecture and exploring different soil layers with complementary use of resource acquisition (e.g., nutrients, water) could enhance primary productivity. Belowground interactions with soil microbiota (e.g., mycorrhizae) is key to enhance resource utilization. Forages with complementary canopy characteristics that helps enhancing light interception and utilization could also lead to greater resource utilization. Integrating forage legumes into livestock systems is a viable way to reduce input of industrial N fertilizer, reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping to mitigate global warming, a major problem during the Anthropocene. Some forage legumes have greater concentration of secondary compounds such as condensed tannins that might reduce emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) from eructation and from excreta. Livestock are major contributors to overall GHG emissions from agricultural systems, and any reduction on those emissions without compromising animal performance is welcome. Furthermore, forage legumes might enhance cattle performance because of greater nutritive value, resulting in greater beef production per unit of GHG released. In fact, shortening the production cycle and improving cattle reproductive efficiency could have major impact reducing the overall carbon footprint of the system. Grazing systems with more diversified plant species are typically more resistant and resilient, adapting to current climate changes during the Anthropocene. There are examples of successful integration of forage legumes into livestock systems in different regions of the world, with major reduction in off-farm inputs and maintaining the system productive. These successful examples must be used to increase adoption and to improve the efficiency of current livestock systems.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Sustainable Intensification of Livestock Systems Using Forage Legumes in the Anthropocene
Sustainable intensification of livestock systems implies greater efficiency in resource utilization resulting in greater output of products and other ecosystem services per unit of resource input. Strategies to improve resource use efficiency include diversification of plant and ruminant species with complementary resource use. Forages that have root systems with contrasting architecture and exploring different soil layers with complementary use of resource acquisition (e.g., nutrients, water) could enhance primary productivity. Belowground interactions with soil microbiota (e.g., mycorrhizae) is key to enhance resource utilization. Forages with complementary canopy characteristics that helps enhancing light interception and utilization could also lead to greater resource utilization. Integrating forage legumes into livestock systems is a viable way to reduce input of industrial N fertilizer, reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping to mitigate global warming, a major problem during the Anthropocene. Some forage legumes have greater concentration of secondary compounds such as condensed tannins that might reduce emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) from eructation and from excreta. Livestock are major contributors to overall GHG emissions from agricultural systems, and any reduction on those emissions without compromising animal performance is welcome. Furthermore, forage legumes might enhance cattle performance because of greater nutritive value, resulting in greater beef production per unit of GHG released. In fact, shortening the production cycle and improving cattle reproductive efficiency could have major impact reducing the overall carbon footprint of the system. Grazing systems with more diversified plant species are typically more resistant and resilient, adapting to current climate changes during the Anthropocene. There are examples of successful integration of forage legumes into livestock systems in different regions of the world, with major reduction in off-farm inputs and maintaining the system productive. These successful examples must be used to increase adoption and to improve the efficiency of current livestock systems.
