Performance of soil and grassland indicators in a silvopastoral system of Leucaena leucocephala/Cynodon nlemfuensis with growing cattle
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Abstract
cattle production, based on Cynodon nlemfuensis, as fundamental grass pasture, and Leucaena leucocephala. During 2002, 2003, and 2007,
the system was evaluated. It was located on soft carbonated brown soil. Two representative paddocks were selected to measure the botanical
composition, the density, and frequency of appearance of species, biomass availability, screening in dry and humid conditions, resistance
to penetration, structural stability, N value, and underground phytomass. For soil sampling, a soil pit was digged in each paddock to collect two unchanged samples, at the depth of 0 to 15 cm, 16 to 30 cm, and at more than 30 cm, respectively. The indicators that explained the best the variability of the system were determined through the analysis of principal components. Among the variables assessed in the plant component, those of greatest relevance were percentage of natural legumes, weeds, star grass, and biomass availability. In the soil, there were: resistance to penetration between 20 and 30 cm of depth, structural stability, aggregates, in humid conditions higher than 5 mm and lower than 1mm of diameter, and the N value. Besides, the soil was considered as clayish. C. nlemfuensis was kept as predominant fundamental grass pasture, with values higher than 52 %, whereas natural legumes showed progressive decline between the years. Weeds ranged from 21 to 35 % in their botanical composition, which indicated the need for improving the management system. The aggregates in humid conditions higher than 5 mm and lower than 1 mm of diameter decreased between years. This, along with the increment in the structural stability and the improvement of the N value, as well as the positive performance of the underground phytomass, showed the progress of the soil fertility. It was concluded that the system had productive and ecological stability. Further studies in time are recommended to deepen into the knowledge on the interrelations in the ecosystems.
Key words: indicators, silvopastoral system, pastures, soil-pasture system.
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