Publication Date

1993

Description

Sown pastures in the tropics and subtropics are important components of production systems. Their role in and contribution to land productivity and economic development are well understood; however, their roles in sustainability and environmental protection are rather misunderstood and little known. The main constraints to sustainability of sown pastures fall into two categories: physical, biological and technical constraints include soil and climatic limitations, lack of adaptation of plants to physical and biotic stress and the limitations of farmers or ranchers to apply technology; socioeconomic factors include political instability, poorness of society and the market forces for land, inputs and products. These constraints act in an inlerrelated complex that may tilt sustainability either towards degradation or to maintenance and conservation of natural resources. Well-managed legume-based pastures adapted to the environment can be highly sustainable and greatly contribute to soil protection and improvement. This is demonstrated by the results of long-term grazing trials at Carimagua in the Colombian Llanos and Yurimaguas in the Peruvian Amazon. Research is required to optimize adaptation of pasture grasses and legumes and to better understand the relations and contributions of pasture components and management in the sward, as well as in integrated agropastoral and silvipastoral production systems.

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Sustainability of Sown Pastures in the Tropics and Subtropics

Sown pastures in the tropics and subtropics are important components of production systems. Their role in and contribution to land productivity and economic development are well understood; however, their roles in sustainability and environmental protection are rather misunderstood and little known. The main constraints to sustainability of sown pastures fall into two categories: physical, biological and technical constraints include soil and climatic limitations, lack of adaptation of plants to physical and biotic stress and the limitations of farmers or ranchers to apply technology; socioeconomic factors include political instability, poorness of society and the market forces for land, inputs and products. These constraints act in an inlerrelated complex that may tilt sustainability either towards degradation or to maintenance and conservation of natural resources. Well-managed legume-based pastures adapted to the environment can be highly sustainable and greatly contribute to soil protection and improvement. This is demonstrated by the results of long-term grazing trials at Carimagua in the Colombian Llanos and Yurimaguas in the Peruvian Amazon. Research is required to optimize adaptation of pasture grasses and legumes and to better understand the relations and contributions of pasture components and management in the sward, as well as in integrated agropastoral and silvipastoral production systems.