Integrated Crop-livestock Production Systems Research Articles

Agricultural trade impacts global phosphorus use and partial productivity.

The spatio-temporal distribution, flow and end use of phosphorus (P) embedded in traded agricultural products are poorly understood. Here we use global trade matrices to analyse the partial factor productivity of P (output per unit of P input) for crop and livestock products in 200 countries and their cumulative contributions to the export or import of agricultural products over 1961-2019. In these six decades, the trade of agricultural P products has increased global partial factor productivity for crop and livestock production and has theoretically saved 67 Tg P in fertilizers and 1.6 Tg P in feed. However, trade is now at risk of contributing to wasteful use of P resources globally due to a decline in trade optimality, as agricultural products are increasingly exported from low to high partial factor productivity countries and due to P embedded in imported agricultural products mainly lost to the environment without recycling. Integrated crop-livestock production systems and P-recycling technologies can help.

GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW

<List> <ListItem><ItemContent> • Grassland-based livestock production systems cover large areas in China. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> • China is facing degradation of rangeland and has great shortage of forage. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> • Five types of mixed crop-livestock systems in China described. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> • Improving crop–livestock integration requires S&T and policy supports. </ItemContent></ListItem></List> <fig><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/fase-20378-hfj-tu1.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/FASE-20378-HFJ-tu1.tif"/></fig> Interactions between crops and livestock have been at the core of the evolution of many agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the development and characteristics of mixed crop-livestock systems, with a focus on grassland-based systems, as these cover large areas in China, and face several challenges. Following the transition from the original hunting and foraging systems to a sedentary lifestyle with integrated crop-livestock production systems some 8000 years ago, a range of different mixed systems have developed, depending on rainfall, solar radiation and temperature, culture and markets. We describe 5 main types of integrated systems, (1) livestock and rangeland, (2) livestock and grain production, (3) livestock and crop – grassland rotations, (4) livestock, crops and forest (silvo-pasture), and (5) livestock, crops and fish ponds. Next, two of these mixed systems are described in greater detail, i.e., the mountain-oasis-desert system and its modifications in arid and semi-arid regions, and the integrated crop-livestock production systems on the Loess Plateau. In general, crop-livestock interactions in integrated systems have significant positive effects on crop production, livestock production, energy use efficiency and economic profitability. We conclude that improved integration of crop-livestock production systems is one of the most important ways for achieving a more sustainable development of animal agriculture in China.

Farmers’ Perception and Evaluation of Brachiaria Grass (Brachiaria spp.) Genotypes for Smallholder Cereal-Livestock Production in East Africa

Brachiaria (Urochloa) is a genus, common name brachiaria, of forage grasses that is increasingly transforming integrated crop-livestock production systems in East Africa. A study was undertaken to (i) assess smallholder farmers’ perception on benefits of brachiaria in cereal-livestock production, (ii) identify brachiaria production constraints, and (iii) identify farmer preferred brachiaria genotypes. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for sample selection. Data were collected through semi-structured individual questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGDs). The study areas included Bondo, Siaya, Homabay and Mbita sub-counties in Western Kenya and the Lake zone of Tanzania. A total of 223 farmers participated in individual response questionnaires while 80 farmers participated in the FGDs. The respondents considered brachiaria mainly important in management of cereal pests (70.4% of respondents) and as an important fodder (60.8%). The major production constraint perceived by both male and female respondents is attacks by arthropods pests (49.2% and 63%, respectively). Spider smites had been observed on own farms by 50.8% of men and 63.1% of women, while sorghum shoot flies had been observed by 58.1% of men and 67.9% of women. These pests were rated as a moderate to severe problem. Xaraes was the most preferred genotype, followed by Mulato II and Piata. These genotypes are important in developing new crop pest management strategies, such as push-pull, and for relatively rapid improvements in crop management and yield increases, particularly in developing countries.

Implications of Adoption of Zero Tillage (ZT) on Productive Efficiency and Production Risk of Wheat Production

The impacts of zero tillage (ZT) on soil physical, biological, and chemical properties have been fairly documented in the literature. However, there is still an information gap in the developing world in general and in integrated crop–livestock production systems in dry areas of the world in particular. Using a sample of 621 farmers in Syria, this study assessed the implications of adoption of ZT technology on productive efficiency, input-specific resource use efficiency, and production risk. A stochastic production frontier model, which explicitly and simultaneously accounts for technical inefficiency and production risk, was used to estimate total factor and input-specific technical efficiencies and the risk of obtaining lower levels of yields for each of the sampled farms. Model results show that adoption of ZT proved to be an effective risk management strategy in this dryland production system, where it led to 95% and 33.3% reductions in the risk of obtaining wheat yield levels below 1000 kg/ha and 1500 kg/ha, respectively. Overall, the results have a clear indication that using ZT leads to improvements in productive efficiency as the adoption of ZT led to 93% reduction in the risk of obtaining efficiency levels below 40%. Future research will be needed to shed light on whether coupling ZT with the other components of conservation agriculture will reverse some of these effects.

Establish Manure Nutrient Management Plan to Promote Green Development of Integrated Crop-livestock Production System

Establish Manure Nutrient Management Plan to Promote Green Development of Integrated Crop-livestock Production System

Community-based tsetse fly control minimizes the effect of trypanosomosis on livestock in Metekel zone, Ethiopia.

Tsetse-related trypanosomosis threatens integrated crop-livestock production system in Ethiopia. Metekel zone is among the tsetse-infested areas in Ethiopia. Community-based tsetse fly and trypanosomosis control using targets was conducted from June 2011 to May 2012 in the zone. In coordination with the control project, a questionnaire survey was administered to assess the economic importance of the tsetse fly and trypanosomosis control conducted in the Zone. On average, there were 3 livestock deaths/household before control and this was decreased to 0.07 after control. This death was contributed from all possible livestock diseases. A household loss 4380 (95% CI = 4223.98-4541.79) EB (1 US$ = 17.9EB) only due to the deaths of his/her livestock was reduced to 90.78 (95% CI = 89.15-92.42) EB after control. Morbidity of oxen in the study areas was significantly decreased by 70.7%. As a result, the monetary loss to rent for healthy draught oxen was decreased by 96.4%. When a household with one cattle harvest 10.9 quintals (1090kg), his neighbor's household with ten cattle maximize his/her yield to about 50.5 quintals (5050kg) of crops indicating that trypanosomosis has great economic impact in crop-livestock production system. As the community-based tsetse fly control approach is simple, cost effective, and appropriate for riverine tsetse species, we conclude that farmers can minimize the negative impact of tsetse flies and trypanosomosis in the tsetse-infested areas of African countries.

Carbon balance of household production system in the transition zone from the Loess Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

The transition zone from the Loess Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the regions with most dramatic changes in agricultural production mode and most sensitive response to the carbon balance effect. This paper analyzed the carbon balance of the agriculture system along the altitude gradient in Tongwei, Weiyuan and Xiahe counties. The results showed that with the increase of altitude, the carbon emission, carbon fixation and carbon sink capacity of crops per unit area decreased accordingly, while the average carbon emission, carbon fixation and carbon source capacity of each household in livestock system increased. The integrated crop-livestock production system changed from carbon sink to carbon source. The average carbon emission of each household rose with altitude, but the carbon fixation was the opposite. The change of percentage ofhousehold in the transition zone from the Loess Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with carbon balance could be fitted with Logistic equation. In the crop system of Tongwei, Weiyuan and Xiahe with the altitude increase, carbon emission at the inflection point where the household percentage accounted for 50.0% was 1491, 857 and 376 kg CE·household-1, and carbon fixation was 6187, 3872 and 778 kg CE·household-1, respectively. For the livestock system, carbon emission was 2218, 3725 and 49511 kg CE·household-1, and carbon fixation was 138, 230 and 2706 kg CE·household-1, respectively. For the integrated crop-livestock system, carbon emission was 3615, 4583 and 49918 kg CE·household-1, and carbon fixation was 6289, 4113 and 3819 kg CE·household-1, respectively, which could be the key point for the regulation of regional carbon balance.

Calcium and Magnesium Released from Residues in an Integrated Crop-Livestock System under Different Grazing Intensities

ABSTRACT Under integrated crop-livestock production systems (ICLS), plant and animal residues are important nutrient stocks for plant growth. Grazing management, by affecting the numbers of both plants and animals and the quality of residues, will influence nutrient release rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of grazing intensity on Ca and Mg release from pasture, dung, and soybean residues in a long-term no-till integrated soybean-cattle system. The experiment was established in May 2001 in a Latossolo [...]

Poultry Litter and Pig slurry Applications in an Integrated Crop-Livestock System

ABSTRACT Organic fertilizers derived from poultry litter and pig slurry are alternatives to mineral fertilizers in increasing soil nutrient availability. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil response, through characterization of organic C and available N, P, and K contents, and corn yield response to increasing amounts of poultry litter, pig slurry, and mineral fertilizers in an integrated crop-livestock production system (ICL) from 2011 to 2013. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in a 4 × 3 [...]

Avaliação bioeconômica do consórcio de sorgo com diferentes espécies forrageiras para sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária em Nova Porteirinha, MG

Esta pesquisa foi conduzida com o intuito de avaliar a viabilidade bioeconômica do consórcio de sorgo com diferentes espécies forrageiras para o sistema de integração lavoura pecuária (iLP) no município de Nova Porteirinha, MG. No primeiro ano do experimento, foram semeadas sete espécies de gramíneas em consórcio com o sorgo para formação da pastagem, além do sorgo solteiro, em dois espaçamentos (40 e 80 cm), definindo os dezesseis tratamentos: a) Brachiaria decumbens + sorgo; b) B. brizantha + sorgo; c) B. ruziziensis + sorgo; d) Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Áridus + sorgo; e) C. ciliaris cv. 131 + sorgo; f) Panicum maximum + sorgo; g) Andropogon gayanus + sorgo; h) Sorgo solteiro. No segundo ano agrícola, as forragens foram previamente dessecadas para o plantio direto do sorgo. Os indicadores de eficiência econômica utilizados foram Payback Simples, Payback Descontado, Valor Presente Líquido, Taxa Interna de Retorno e relação Benefício/Custo. Foram observadas diferenças estatísticas (P&lt;0,01) para o efeito dos consórcios, espaçamentos e interação consórcios x espaçamentos para produtividade do sorgo. Foram constatadas diferenças significativas para o efeito dos consórcios (P&lt;0,01), espaçamentos (P&lt;0,01) e interação consórcios x espaçamentos (P&lt;0,05) para produtividade de matéria seca da forragem. Dos quatorze tratamentos para os sistemas iLP analisados, seis apresentaram maior viabilidade econômica e atratividade quando comparado ao sorgo solteiro. O consórcio mais recomendado foi sorgo cultivado com B. ruziziensis e B. brizantha, para os espaçamentos 80 cm e 40 cm, respectivamente, devido à elevada produtividade e ao baixo valor da implantação da pastagem.

Does Cattle Grazing and Baling of Corn Residue Increase Water Erosion?

Core Ideas Water erosion did not increase after one season of grazing, but it significantly increased after seven seasons of grazing. Baling increased water erosion and its effects were larger than grazing. Water erosion increased as residue cover decreased. A better understanding of the implications of corn (Zea mays L.) residue grazing and baling on soil and environmental quality is needed to develop sustainable integrated crop–livestock production systems. We studied how corn residue grazing and baling impacted water erosion in a rainfed and an irrigated site in Nebraska after one and seven grazing seasons, respectively. Treatments were grazing (4.4 animal unit mo [AUM] ha−1), baling, and control (no residue removal) in triplicate at the rainfed site on a Yutan silty clay loam (6% slope) and light grazing (2.5 AUM ha−1), heavy grazing (5 AUM ha−1), baling, and control in duplicate at the irrigated site on Duroc loam and Satanta loam (5.3% slope). We measured erosion under simulated rainfall for 30 min at an intensity of 6.3 ± 1.2 cm h−1. Erosion did not increase after one season of grazing at the rainfed site, but it significantly increased after seven seasons of grazing at the irrigated site. At this site, both heavy and light grazing increased runoff by 3.3 mm and sediment loss by 0.26 Mg ha−1. Baling had larger effects on water erosion than grazing. Across both sites, baling reduced time to runoff start by 14 min and increased runoff by 13 mm and sediment loss by 2.7 Mg ha−1. While grazing after seven seasons increased nutrient loss, baling caused larger nutrient losses at both sites. Overall, grazing caused runoff losses of sediment, C, and nutrients in the long term, but baling consistently increased such losses in both short and long term.

Suitable Integrated Crop-livestock Production System in Char area of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is an agricultural country. Agriculture contributes a large amount in national GDP. But the huge population and their food safety is a great challenge. For meets this challenge integrated crop-Livestock systems can plays an important role. Large amount of roughage demands of both milch and fattening cattle can be easily fulfilled with Napier grass cultivation. At least three times harvesting can be done through a year. Especially the lands of char areas are suitable for cultivation of this type of perennial grasses. Maize is also a suitable crop for char lands. Marginal and landless people of char areas can be benefited by cultivating this type of crops.

Soil acidification and basic cation use efficiency in an integrated no-till crop–livestock system under different grazing intensities

Under integrated crop–livestock production system (ICLS), the animal acts as a catalyzer, modifying and accelerating fluxes by ingesting forage nutrients (grazing) and returning them to the soil as urine and dung in a continuous process whose magnitude and direction depend on grazing intensity. Thus, ICLS may change soil acidification processes and rates. The objective of this research was to verify the influence of grazing intensities on soil acidification through measurements of the soil chemical attributes in the soil profile and the efficiency of basic cation use in a soybean–beef cattle integration system nine years after surface liming under long-term no-till conditions in southern Brazil. An experiment established in 2001 in a Rhodic Hapludox with soybean (summer) and a mix of black oat+Italian ryegrass (winter) succession was used. Treatments consisted of different grazing intensities during the winter season: intensive grazing (IG), moderate grazing (MG), and no-grazing (NG). The experiment was set up in a randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. To evaluate soil chemical attributes, soil was sampled up to 40cm, in May 2010, nine years after lime application. To quantify basic cations budgets and efficiencies, the inputs and outputs of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, as well as their initial and final exchangeable soil stocks were evaluated. Areas under grazed treatments, regardless of the intensity (IG or MG), presented lower soil acidification. Calcium and magnesium budgets were negative under NG and positive under MG. Potassium budgets were always negative, regardless of the management system, due to soybean grain harvest exportation and non-productive outputs. The soybean–beef cattle integrated system, with either IG or MG, was more efficient in calcium and magnesium utilization to produce protein; however, grazing does not affect potassium use efficiency.

Climatic risk zoning for corn and palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv: Marandu) cultivated in integrated crop-livestock systems in São Paulo state, Brazil

Climatic risk zoning allows the identification of areas of low risk of reduced crop productivity due to climatic events. In Brazil, losses to agriculture due to climate are mainly caused by drought. The objective of this research was to determine areas of low climatic risk for corn and palisade grass cultivated in integrated crop-livestock systems in Sao Paulo state. Corn varieties characterized by a 120-day growing cycle and soil with three different water holding capacities (sandy, medium and clayey soils) were considered. A daily water balance model was used to simulate planting dates between September and December. The water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) was calculated for critical phenological phases of both cultures (germination, emergence and tillering of palisade grass and flowering and grain filling of corn). The WRSI values, calculated for a minimum frequency of 80%, were located spatially using the SPRING v. 5.1 geographic information system and the most favorable periods for sowing in different areas were determined. The results showed that there are areas of low climatic risk for cultivation of corn and palisade grass in integrated crop-livestock production systems in Sao Paulo state. Although climatic risk in these areas also depends on soil type, the most favorable period for planting is between October and November.

Conversão e balanço de energia de sistemas de produção com integração lavoura-pecuária sob plantio direto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a conversão e o balanço de energia em sistemas de produção com integração lavoura-pecuária, sob plantio direto. O experimento foi conduzido de 2001 a 2008. De 2001 a 2002, foram avaliados os sistemas: 1, trigo/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca/milho; 2, trigo/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca+azevém/milho; 3, trigo/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca/pastagem de milheto; 4, trigo/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca+azevém/pastagem de milheto; 5, trigo/soja, aveia-branca/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca/pastagem de milheto; 6, trigo/soja, aveia-branca/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta+ervilhaca+azevém/pastagem de milheto. De 2003 a 2008, foram avaliados os sistemas: 1, trigo/soja e ervilhaca/milho; 2, trigo/soja e pastagem de aveia-preta/milho; 3, trigo/soja e aveia-preta/soja; 4, trigo/soja e ervilha/milho; 5, trigo/soja, ervilhaca/soja e triticale de duplo propósito/soja; e 6, trigo/soja, aveia-branca de duplo propósito/soja e trigo de duplo propósito/soja. O milho apresentou o maior retorno energético, em comparação às demais culturas produtoras de grãos e às pastagens de inverno e de verão. Das culturas de cobertura de solo e de adubação verde de inverno, a ervilha foi a mais eficiente na conversão de energia. Os sistemas 1, 2 e 4, entre 2003 e 2008, foram os mais eficientes no balanço energético.

Integrated crop-livestock production systems in China

The integrated crop-livestock production system provides most of the food needed by the people of China. Five types of integrated production systems are recognised; rangeland, grain crops, crop/pasture, agro-silvopastoral and ponds. Development of more sustainable and integrated crop-pasture-rangeland-livestock production systems has been recently achieved. Demonstrations of the integrated systems at household, village and regional levels are occurring for rain-fed agriculture on the Loess Plateau, the Hexi Corridor, north-western China and the Karst region of Guizhou Province, south-western China. These indicate that integration of crop, livestock and forage are effective means of improving agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and farmers’ incomes. Widespread adoption of integrated farming systems should also reduce rangeland degradation.

Crop and cattle responses to tillage systems for integrated crop–livestock production in the Southern Piedmont, USA

AbstractIntegration of crops and livestock has the potential to provide a multitude of benefits to soil and water conservation and nutrient cycling efficiency, while reducing economic risk and increasing profitability. We conducted a field study from May 2002 to October 2005 to determine crop and cattle responses to three management factors on a Typic Kanhapludult in Georgia, USA. Summer grain/winter cover [sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL. Moench) or corn (Zea maysL.)/rye (Secale cerealeL.)] and winter grain/summer cover [wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)/pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucumL. R. Br.)] were managed with either conventional tillage (CT) or no tillage (NT) and with or without cattle grazing of cover crops. All crops were successfully established, irrespective of tillage and cover crop management. Although pearl millet was often lower in the plant stand with NT than with CT, plants compensated with greater biomass on an area basis. Across years, grain yield of sorghum (1.9 Mg ha−1during three seasons) and corn (7.3 Mg ha−1in one season) was 25% greater under NT than under CT when the cover crop was not grazed. Wheat grain yield (2.7 Mg ha−1during three seasons) was unaffected by tillage and cover crop management. Unharvested stover production of summer grain crops was greater with NT than with CT (6.5 versus 4.1 Mg ha−1;P&lt;0.001). Grazing rye rather than allowing it to accumulate as surface residue reduced summer grain yield 23% and reduced standing grain-crop dry matter 26% under NT, but had no effect under CT. In contrast, grazing pearl millet rather than allowing it to accumulate as surface residue increased wheat standing dry matter yield by 25±14% (mean±standard deviation among 3 years and two tillage systems). Ungrazed cover crop production was greater under NT than under CT for rye (7.0 versus 6.0 Mg ha−1;P=0.03) and pearl millet (10.2 versus 7.6 Mg ha−1;P=0.01). Calf daily gain was either greater or tended to be greater under NT than under CT on rye (2.27 versus 2.09 kg head−1d−1;P=0.15) and pearl millet (2.05 versus 1.81 kg head−1d−1;P=0.05). Total cattle gain per grazing season was either greater or tended to be greater with NT than with CT on rye (350 versus 204 kg ha−1;P=0.01) and pearl millet (324 versus 277 kg ha−1;P=0.15). Net return over variable costs was greater with grazing than without grazing of cover crops (US$302 versus −US$63 ha−1;P&lt;0.001). Livestock grazing of cover crops had variable effects on subsequent crop production, but increased economic return and diversity overall. Therefore, an integrated crop–livestock production system with conservation tillage is recommended as a viable option for producers to diversify farming operations to avoid risk, improve ecological production of crops, and potentially avoid environmental damage from soil erosion and nutrient loss.

Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems in the Southeastern USA

Opportunities to integrate crops and livestock are abundant throughout the southeastern USA due to a mild climate and a rich natural resource base that can produce different crops throughout the year. Although not currently common, integration of forage and grazing animals with cropping systems could benefit both production and environmental goals. This report summarizes research from some of the key components that could produce viable integrated crop–livestock production systems: sod‐based crop rotation, cover cropping, intercropping, and conservation tillage. Sod‐based crop rotations have been effective in breaking pest cycles and restoring soil organic matter, which critically controls a wide diversity of key soil and plant properties and processes. Cover cropping by itself has many agronomic benefits, but its adoption appears to be limited, because of cost without immediate economic benefit. Grazing of cover crops could provide an immediate economic benefit to producers, especially with the development of conservation tillage technologies to avoid deterioration of soil and water quality. The potential for advancement of integrated crop–livestock systems is exemplified in a few current research projects in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. With greater integration of crops and livestock, new management guidelines and experiences will be needed, but the quantity and quality of production and economic return could increase, while at the same time placing less degrading pressure on soil and water resources.