Physical attributes and soil carbon stock in different regenerative silvopastoral systems

Abstract

Brazil is currently the largest producer of beef in the world and has over 165.2 million hectares of land occupied by pastures, and one of the main problems related to extensive livestock farming is the quality of the soil in these pastures. Practices that preserve and increase soil quality, promoting a sustainable and conservationist production are necessary and, therefore, the Intensive Silvipastoral Systems (SSPi) emerge in this scenario as an excellent alternative to circumvent the problems related to soil health. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the physical attributes and carbon stock of the soil in relation to different Silvipastoral Systems in a LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distrófico. This research is being carried out at Fazenda Takaoka, in the municipality of Iaras, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design is entirely randomized, with the following treatments: T1 - Intensive Silvipastoral System (SSPI with Leucena); T2 - Intensive Silvipastoral System (SSPI with Tithonia); T3 - Silvipastoral System (SSP); T4 - Rotated Grazing System (SR). Soil attributes such as soil density, soil porosity, soil resistance to penetration and carbon stock in the different treatments will be evaluated. It is believed that the conservationist systems present the benefits: reduced soil compaction, increased nutrient cycling and soil carbon stock. Therefore, it is expected that the Silvipastoral Systems consorted with shrubs show a positive relationship in the soil quality of these pastures, besides the financial return that the commercialization of wood can provide to the producer.