Theme 1: Grassland Ecology
Description
Pastures occupy 30% of Earth and 80% of the entire agricultural area of the planet. To ensure food to the world and contribute to the quality of the environment, pasture-based animal production systems will also have to undergo through a more intense evolution. The intensification of tropical grasslands is an important strategy of land utilization in developing countries, contributing to increase production and minimize environmental impact through the best management practices. In this sense, the use of Brachiaria hybrids represents an excellent option, since combining the best traits of different Brachiaria species, with higher nutritive value, forage, and seed yield. Here we have evaluated six Brachiaria hybrids’ effects on both soil health and carbon stock. We observed that in all Brachiaria genotypes the mean carbon stock varied significantly in at least two soil depth categories. In general, carbon stock tends to get smaller as soil depth increases. Enzyme activity analysis showed there were no significant differences in the mean enzyme activity except in hybrid GP 3660 for β-glucosidase enzyme. Therefore, the adoption of Brachiaria hybrids might also help farmers to produce in an environmentally friendly manner, due to the potential benefits of Brachiaria to soil life enzyme activity and carbon mitigation.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Impact of the Brachiaria Hybrids on Both Soil Health and Carbon Stock on Livestock Production
Pastures occupy 30% of Earth and 80% of the entire agricultural area of the planet. To ensure food to the world and contribute to the quality of the environment, pasture-based animal production systems will also have to undergo through a more intense evolution. The intensification of tropical grasslands is an important strategy of land utilization in developing countries, contributing to increase production and minimize environmental impact through the best management practices. In this sense, the use of Brachiaria hybrids represents an excellent option, since combining the best traits of different Brachiaria species, with higher nutritive value, forage, and seed yield. Here we have evaluated six Brachiaria hybrids’ effects on both soil health and carbon stock. We observed that in all Brachiaria genotypes the mean carbon stock varied significantly in at least two soil depth categories. In general, carbon stock tends to get smaller as soil depth increases. Enzyme activity analysis showed there were no significant differences in the mean enzyme activity except in hybrid GP 3660 for β-glucosidase enzyme. Therefore, the adoption of Brachiaria hybrids might also help farmers to produce in an environmentally friendly manner, due to the potential benefits of Brachiaria to soil life enzyme activity and carbon mitigation.
