Satellite Symposium 1: Optimisation
Description
There are estimated to be > 80 M ha of Brachiaria pastures in the tropical regions of Brazil. When continuously grazed with only modest fertiliser inputs (and no N) these pastures can maintain reasonable cattle weight gains (> 200 kg LWG/ha per year). However, without fertiliser and when overgrazed, LWGs fall rapidly to low levels. Recent studies have shown that N and P deficiency are the most important factors limiting productivity. The objective of this study was to study fluxes of N and P in the pasture system in order to understand resilience to poor management and minimum nutrient requirements to guarantee their sustainability.
Citation
Boddey, R. M.; Tarré, R.; Macedo, R.; de P. Rezende, C.; Pereira, J. M.; Alves, B. J. R.; and Urquiaga, S., "Cycling of N and P in Grass-Alone (Brachiaria) and Mixed Grass/Legume (Brachiaria/ Desmodium ovalifolium) Grazed Pastures in the Atlantic Forest Region of Brazil" (2022). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/satellightsymposium1/6
Included in
Cycling of N and P in Grass-Alone (Brachiaria) and Mixed Grass/Legume (Brachiaria/ Desmodium ovalifolium) Grazed Pastures in the Atlantic Forest Region of Brazil
There are estimated to be > 80 M ha of Brachiaria pastures in the tropical regions of Brazil. When continuously grazed with only modest fertiliser inputs (and no N) these pastures can maintain reasonable cattle weight gains (> 200 kg LWG/ha per year). However, without fertiliser and when overgrazed, LWGs fall rapidly to low levels. Recent studies have shown that N and P deficiency are the most important factors limiting productivity. The objective of this study was to study fluxes of N and P in the pasture system in order to understand resilience to poor management and minimum nutrient requirements to guarantee their sustainability.
