RESUMO

In the last decades, population growth worldwide boosts agricultural demand for food production. This huge driver rendered global food production more and more specialized, so agricultural landscapes became uniform and monotonic. The loss of diversity is a strong evidence of how modern agricultural landscapes have been disconnecting from nature. Evidence of environmental side-effects from this pathway are abundant in literature. Now, society is pressing towards changing practices aiming for healthy diets and sustainable food production systems. This raises the question: how to reconnect nature and agriculture in the context of future food production? In this review we propose a reconnection process based on the principles of ecological intensification or sustainable intensification. The integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) are the most consolidated technological pathway to reconcile crop production with natural processes. These systems are diverse and can partially mimic natural ecosystems exploring the synergies of natural biological processes, while achieving high levels of food production. ICLS promote soil improvements and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing the agricultural share of global warming and climate change. Besides, these systems are more efficient in the use of nutrients and can optimize the use of other inputs such as pesticides. We present evidence of soil health and biogeochemical cycle restoration in addition to system stability improvement, and assume those symptoms as evidence of mixing crops and livestock fostering reconnection with natural processes.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

In the last decades, population growth worldwide boosts agricultural demand for food production. This huge driver rendered global food production more and more specialized, so agricultural landscapes became uniform and monotonic. The loss of diversity is a strong evidence of how modern agricultural landscapes have been disconnecting from nature. Evidence of environmental side-effects from this pathway are abundant in literature. Now, society is pressing towards changing practices aiming for healthy diets and sustainable food production systems. This raises the question: how to reconnect nature and agriculture in the context of future food production? In this review we propose a reconnection process based on the principles of ecological intensification or sustainable intensification. The integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) are the most consolidated technological pathway to reconcile crop production with natural processes. These systems are diverse and can partially mimic natural ecosystems exploring the synergies of natural biological processes, while achieving high levels of food production. ICLS promote soil improvements and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing the agricultural share of global warming and climate change. Besides, these systems are more efficient in the use of nutrients and can optimize the use of other inputs such as pesticides. We present evidence of soil health and biogeochemical cycle restoration in addition to system stability improvement, and assume those symptoms as evidence of mixing crops and livestock fostering reconnection with natural processes.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Sustainable intensification of land-use practices has never been more important to ensure food security for a growing world population. When combined under thoughtful management, cover cropping and crop-livestock integration under no-till systems can benefit from unexpected synergies due to their unique features of plant-animal diversification and complex agroecosystem functions. Mimicking the nutrient coupling/decoupling processes of natural ecosystems by diversifying plant and animal components of no-till integrated crop-livestock operations is an essential feature of the design of agroecological systems that support self-regulating feedbacks and lend resilience while increasing productivity and ecosystem service provision. Focusing on grazing animals as drivers of agroecosystem change, we highlight the benefits of grazed cover crops in rotation with cash crops for primary and secondary production and for soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. However, careful management of grazing intensity is imperative; overgrazing drives soil deterioration, while light to moderate grazing enhances overall system functioning and allows for the generation of emergent properties.

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RESUMO

This paper aims to discuss the impact of the introduction of pastures and grazing animals in agricultural systems. For the purposes of this manuscript, we focus on within-farm integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), typical of Southern Brazil. These ICLS are designed to create and enhance the synergisms and emergent properties have arisen from agricultural areas where livestock activities are integrated with crops. We show that the introduction of the crop component will affect less the preceding condition than the introduction of the livestock component. While the introduction of crops in pastoral systems represents increasing diversity of the plant component, the introduction of animals would represent the entry of new flows and interactions within the system. Thus, given the new complexity levels achieved from the introduction of grazing, the probability of arising emergent properties is theoretically much higher. However, grazing management is vital in determining the success or failure of such initiative. The grazing intensity practiced during the pasture phase would affect the canopy structure and the forage availability to animals. In adequate and moderate grazing intensities, it is possible to affirm that livestock combined with crops (ICLS) has a potential positive impact. As important as the improvements that grazing animals can generate to the soil-plant components, the economic resilience remarkably increases when pasture rotations are introduced compared with purely agriculture systems, particularly in climate-risk situations. Thus, the integration of the pastoral component can enhance the sustainable intensification of food production, but it modifies simple, pure agricultural systems into more complex and knowledge-demanding production systems.(AU)

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RESUMO

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar como o manejo da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura no milho e lâminas de irrigação afetam a dinâmica do nitrogênio no perfil do solo e o rendimento de grãos de milho. Foi considerada uma área experimental que vem sendo cultivada em sistema plantio direto há 22 anos, em Eldorado do Sul/RS. Os tratamentos constaram da combinação de manejos de nitrogênio em cobertura (testemunha sem nitrogênio em cobertura, dose única de 300 kg ha-1 e essa dose parcelada em duas vezes) e lâminas de irrigação (20 e 100 mm). As amostragens de solo foram realizadas dez dias após a primeira adubação de nitrogênio em cobertura e dez dias após a segunda adubação de nitrogênio em cobertura. Independentemente da lâmina de irrigação, ocorreu o aumento nos teores de nitrato nas camadas subsuperficiais (20-30 e 30-40 cm) após a aplicação das doses de nitrogênio em cobertura. O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada foi uma alternativa eficiente para diminuir os teores de nitrato nas camadas subsuperficiais do solo, para ambas as lâminas de irrigação. Entretanto, isso não se refletiu em ganho de produtividade e em retorno econômico quando comparado à aplicação única de nitrogênio em cobertura, independentemente da lâmina de irrigação.(AU)

The objective of this research was to evaluate how the management of nitrogen fertilization in corn and irrigation rates affects the nitrogen dynamics in the soil profile and corn grain yield. For this, was evaluated an experimental area which has been cultivated in no-tillage system since 22 years ago, in Eldorado do Sul/RS. Treatments consisted of the combination of nitrogen management in coverage (control without nitrogen topdressed, single application of 300 kg ha-1 and this dose splitted in two times) and irrigation rates (20 and 100 mm). Soil samples were taken ten days after the first fertilizer nitrogen in coverage and ten days after the second fertilizer N in coverage. Regardless of the rate, irrigation promoted the increase in nitrate content in subsurface layer (20-30 and 30-40 cm) after the application of nitrogen cover doses. The nitrogen splitted fertilization is an effective alternative to reduce the nitrate content in subsurface soil layers, for both irrigation rates. However, this is not reflected in higher yields and economic returns when compared to single application of nitrogen, regardless of the irrigation rate.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar como o manejo da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura no milho e lâminas de irrigação afetam a dinâmica do nitrogênio no perfil do solo e o rendimento de grãos de milho. Foi considerada uma área experimental que vem sendo cultivada em sistema plantio direto há 22 anos, em Eldorado do Sul/RS. Os tratamentos constaram da combinação de manejos de nitrogênio em cobertura (testemunha sem nitrogênio em cobertura, dose única de 300 kg ha-1 e essa dose parcelada em duas vezes) e lâminas de irrigação (20 e 100 mm). As amostragens de solo foram realizadas dez dias após a primeira adubação de nitrogênio em cobertura e dez dias após a segunda adubação de nitrogênio em cobertura. Independentemente da lâmina de irrigação, ocorreu o aumento nos teores de nitrato nas camadas subsuperficiais (20-30 e 30-40 cm) após a aplicação das doses de nitrogênio em cobertura. O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada foi uma alternativa eficiente para diminuir os teores de nitrato nas camadas subsuperficiais do solo, para ambas as lâminas de irrigação. Entretanto, isso não se refletiu em ganho de produtividade e em retorno econômico quando comparado à aplicação única de nitrogênio em cobertura, independentemente da lâmina de irrigação.

The objective of this research was to evaluate how the management of nitrogen fertilization in corn and irrigation rates affects the nitrogen dynamics in the soil profile and corn grain yield. For this, was evaluated an experimental area which has been cultivated in no-tillage system since 22 years ago, in Eldorado do Sul/RS. Treatments consisted of the combination of nitrogen management in coverage (control without nitrogen topdressed, single application of 300 kg ha-1 and this dose splitted in two times) and irrigation rates (20 and 100 mm). Soil samples were taken ten days after the first fertilizer nitrogen in coverage and ten days after the second fertilizer N in coverage. Regardless of the rate, irrigation promoted the increase in nitrate content in subsurface layer (20-30 and 30-40 cm) after the application of nitrogen cover doses. The nitrogen splitted fertilization is an effective alternative to reduce the nitrate content in subsurface soil layers, for both irrigation rates. However, this is not reflected in higher yields and economic returns when compared to single application of nitrogen, regardless of the irrigation rate.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Native pastures are of great importance for cattle and sheep nutrition in the Pampa biome. However, due to its low productivity, the Italian ryegrass introduction and the nitrogen (N) fertilization are alternatives proposed to intensify livestock production in a sustainable manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term N application on soil health indicators in a native pasture with Italian ryegrass introduction in southern Brazil. The experiment consists of a secondary native pasture under continuous grazing and constant herbage allowance. In 1996 experimental area was broadcast limed and the experiment was initiated, testing three N topdressing rates (0, 100 and 200kg N ha-1 year-1). In 2010 soil of experimental and reference area of non grazed native grassland was sampled in the soil layers of 0-20 and 20-40cm. Total, particulate and mineral associated carbon (C) and N stocks were evaluated. Soil microbiological attributes were evaluated in 0-5 and 5-10cm soil layers. The long-term N fertilization in soils with native pasture and Italian ryegrass introduction did not affect total C and N stocks. However, increases in N particulate fraction were seen with 100kg ha-1 year-1 of N rate of fertilization. Furthermore, the increase in N rates increased N microbial biomass and respiration.(AU)

A pastagem nativa é uma importante fonte de forragem para produção de bovinos e ovinos no bioma Pampa. A introdução do azevém e a fertilização nitrogenada são alternativas que visam intensificar a exploração pecuária de forma mais sustentável, podendo causar alterações em vários atributos do solo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos de longo prazo de fertilização nitrogenada sobre atributos indicadores da saúde do solo em pastagem nativa com introdução de azevém anual. O experimento consistiu de uma sucessão secundária da pastagem natural submetida ao pastejo contínuo por bovinos e ovinos, com oferta de forragem constante. Em 1996, anteriormente ao inicio do experimento, a área experimental foi calcareada para correção da acidez do solo. O experimento foi então iniciado, sendo constituído da aplicação de três doses de N em cobertura, correspondendo a 0, 100 e 200kg ha-1 ano-1 de N. Em 2010, amostras de solo foram coletadas nas camadas de 0-20 e 20-40cm para análise de C e N total, particulado e associado aos minerais, além de uma área de referência (campo nativo sem pastejo). Análises microbiológicas foram conduzidas nas camadas de 0-5 e 5-10cm. A adubação nitrogenada de longo prazo em solos de campo nativo com introdução de azevém não altera os estoques totais de C e N, mas aumenta a fração particulada de N na dose de 100kg ha-1 ano-1. Em relação à atividade microbiana, o aumento na dose do fertilizante aumenta a respiração dos microrganismos, assim como o N da sua biomassa.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Native pastures are of great importance for cattle and sheep nutrition in the Pampa biome. However, due to its low productivity, the Italian ryegrass introduction and the nitrogen (N) fertilization are alternatives proposed to intensify livestock production in a sustainable manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term N application on soil health indicators in a native pasture with Italian ryegrass introduction in southern Brazil. The experiment consists of a secondary native pasture under continuous grazing and constant herbage allowance. In 1996 experimental area was broadcast limed and the experiment was initiated, testing three N topdressing rates (0, 100 and 200kg N ha-1 year-1). In 2010 soil of experimental and reference area of non grazed native grassland was sampled in the soil layers of 0-20 and 20-40cm. Total, particulate and mineral associated carbon (C) and N stocks were evaluated. Soil microbiological attributes were evaluated in 0-5 and 5-10cm soil layers. The long-term N fertilization in soils with native pasture and Italian ryegrass introduction did not affect total C and N stocks. However, increases in N particulate fraction were seen with 100kg ha-1 year-1 of N rate of fertilization. Furthermore, the increase in N rates increased N microbial biomass and respiration.

A pastagem nativa é uma importante fonte de forragem para produção de bovinos e ovinos no bioma Pampa. A introdução do azevém e a fertilização nitrogenada são alternativas que visam intensificar a exploração pecuária de forma mais sustentável, podendo causar alterações em vários atributos do solo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos de longo prazo de fertilização nitrogenada sobre atributos indicadores da saúde do solo em pastagem nativa com introdução de azevém anual. O experimento consistiu de uma sucessão secundária da pastagem natural submetida ao pastejo contínuo por bovinos e ovinos, com oferta de forragem constante. Em 1996, anteriormente ao inicio do experimento, a área experimental foi calcareada para correção da acidez do solo. O experimento foi então iniciado, sendo constituído da aplicação de três doses de N em cobertura, correspondendo a 0, 100 e 200kg ha-1 ano-1 de N. Em 2010, amostras de solo foram coletadas nas camadas de 0-20 e 20-40cm para análise de C e N total, particulado e associado aos minerais, além de uma área de referência (campo nativo sem pastejo). Análises microbiológicas foram conduzidas nas camadas de 0-5 e 5-10cm. A adubação nitrogenada de longo prazo em solos de campo nativo com introdução de azevém não altera os estoques totais de C e N, mas aumenta a fração particulada de N na dose de 100kg ha-1 ano-1. Em relação à atividade microbiana, o aumento na dose do fertilizante aumenta a respiração dos microrganismos, assim como o N da sua biomassa.

Assuntos