Abstract
In Brazil, 60% to 80% of cultivated pastures show some degradation level. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the variability of the horizontal structure and biomass of Massai grass in an agropastoral system as a diagnosis of degraded pasture. We performed the georeferencing in a 12m × 13m mesh, totaling 48 sampling stations, and evaluated grass's biomass and structural characteristics at each station. We submitted the data to descriptive statistics and geostatistical analysis. We observed a process of degradation of pasture in the experimental area. Under these conditions, most of the characteristics of the pasture's horizontal structure and the production of biomass showed spatial dependence with high variability. Geostatistics efficiently represented and understood the variability of the studied attributes, enabling developing a specific pasture recovery management plan.
Highlights
In Brazil, the Cerrado has stood out as a driver of agribusiness in beef production in recent decades
The sampling was perfomed in an area of agropastoral system formed by the association of dwarf coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) with Megathyrsus maximus cv. massai, in a total area of 6,446m2, divided into four parcels
According to the classification criteria of the restrictive parameters and deterioration status proposed by Spain and Gualdrón (1991), we observed a strong and very strong level of degradation in the experimental area, the agropastoral system formed by the association of coconut trees with a pasture of Megathyrsus maximus cv. massai (Figure 1)
Summary
In Brazil, the Cerrado has stood out as a driver of agribusiness in beef production in recent decades. According to Araújo et al (2017), about 95% of beef is produced on pastures, in a total area of about 167 million hectares. Inadequate management of soils and pastures represents the main critical points that affect the sustainability of animal production based on pastures, leading to a condition of degradation of pastures (PENATI et al, 2014). According to Dias-Filho (2011), the indicators of degraded pastures do not show a standardized methodology. Pasture areas are considered degraded in a given location or productive in another site. Evaluating the conditions of pastures is essential to relate soil degradation with forage degradation, to establish pasture and soil recovery management (SCHIPPER et al, 2014)
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