GHG full account and mitigation strategies in Brachiaria pastures submitted to different management

Abstract

This project aims to quantify the main sources of greenhouse gases emissions associated with livestock activity in pastures in southeastern Brazil. The main issues to be studied are: the methane emitted from enteric fermentation of ruminants, nitrous oxide emitted by feces of grazing animals and carbon dioxide exchanged by soil and vegetation. The addition of fats in the diet could reduce methane emissions, and the intensity with which it inhibits the production of gas is determined by the degree of saturation of fat and the amount supplemented. In contrast to the emission of greenhouse gases, large amounts of carbon can be stored in plant and soil in well managed pastures, reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In this sense also be assessed carbon storage, soil and structural characteristics and plant production. The experiment will be conducted in an area of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu under different intensities of grazing, grazing in Nellore bulls, with the use of different supplementation strategies. The goal is to identify mitigation strategies for greenhouse gases by evaluating the condition of the pasture and the stock of soil carbon and reducing methane emissions from enteric fermentation of animals, for the sustainability of pasture and animal production and obtain the balance of these gases in the cattle industry. (AU)