Efficiency of water use and nitrogen for goat milk production in irrigated pasture to different management

A.C.R Cavalcante,M.J.D Cândido,N.L.S Lemos,P.M Santos,J.A.A C Júnior

doi:10.1590/1678-4162-8682

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim was to determine the efficiency of use of water and nitrogen for forage production and goat-milk production on an irrigated Tanzania Guineagrass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) pasture subjected to different management practices. The management levels tested were combinations among nitrogen fertilization levels and post-grazing residual heights (ResH): Intensive (ResH = 33.0cm and 600.0kg N/ha.year-1); Moderate (ResH = 47.0cm and 300.0kg N/ha.year-1); Light (ResH = 47cm and 0kg N/ha.year-1); and Conventional (ResH = 33cm and 0kg N/ha year-1). The efficiency of water use for forage production was higher in intensive and Moderate management. The Conventional management was recommended only for forage production since there is no nitrogen input available because this result was similar to Intensive management in water efficiency. The efficiency of water use to produce goat milk was higher in Intensive management. Moderate management presented higher efficiency of nitrogen to produce forage. On the other hand, Intensive management was more efficient using nitrogen in goat milk production. The amount of water needed to produce one liter of goat milk varied from 893.20 to 3,933.50L. In the moderate management, up to 121.48kg forage and 21.56kg of milk were produced for every kilogram of N utilized. Intensive management is advantageous for water use efficiency as well nitrogen efficiency to produce goat milk in cultivated pasture.

Highlights

The sustainability of livestock production in semi-arid regions has led to the search for more efficient production models in the use of the natural resources that have a positive impact on the sustainable rural development of these regions
Given the foregoing, the aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of water use and nitrogen for forage production and its effect on the production of milk by goats on an irrigated Tanzania Guinea grass pasture subjected to different management strategies
Greater efficiencies in the use of water for green dry forage production were quantified in the grazing intensities that received nitrogen fertilization, with 36.62 and 32.73kg Green Forage Dry Matter (GFDM)/mm of water for the Moderate and Intensive managements, respectively

Summary

Introduction

The sustainability of livestock production in semi-arid regions has led to the search for more efficient production models in the use of the natural resources that have a positive impact on the sustainable rural development of these regions. In this regard, dairy-goat farming has contributed to increasing the human development indices in semi-arid areas, especially in Brazil. Dairy-goat farming has contributed to increasing the human development indices in semi-arid areas, especially in Brazil This increase has been possible through the use of technologies that make this production feasible economically and ecologically. The efficient use of this resource guarantees the sustainability, since a 1% increase in the efficiency of water in semi-arid climates would represent an economy of 200,000.0 L of water per hectare per year in agriculture, which is where 70% of the water on the planet is used (Oweis and Hachum, 2006)

Objectives

Methods

Results