A review of silvopastoral systems in native forests of Nothofagus antarctica in southern Patagonia, Argentina

PERI, P; BAHAMONDE, HA; LENCINAS, MV; GARGAGLIONE, V; SOLER, R; ORMAECHEA, S; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2016

0167-4366

Silvopastoral systems in Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) forest have become an economical, ecological and productive alternative in Patagonia. Southern Patagonia experience over the past 12 years withsilvopastoral systems is reviewed. The productivity and nutritive value (crudeprotein content and dry matter digestibility) of the understorey grassland weredependent on the interaction of environmental (mainly soil water availabilityand light intensity) and management factors under the trees and in turndetermined animal performance. A method developed for carrying capacityestimation at the paddock level was based on the potential aboveground netprimary production, and values ranged from 85 to 2200 kg DM ha. Planned thinning in secondary forest stands provides wood production and also improvesthe undestorey DM production by increasing incoming radiation. Within amanagement plan, a stand?s water stress conditions as well as the use ofReineke?s stand density index are proposed to assist in determining thinningintensities. Livestock production is the main annual income of silvopastoral systemswhere cattle and mixed livestock production (cattle - sheep) is the main activity. Animal performance at the whole farm scale is presented by comparingtraditional extensive grazing management with an adaptive silvopastoralmanagement that included strategic separation in homogeneous areas (grasssteppe, forest and riparian meadows), stocking rate adjustment to grassland netprimary production and the protection of regeneration from herbivores browsing.Data from litter decomposition, nutrient cycling and carbon storage studiesalso are presented. Finally, aspects related to the criteria and indicators to assessñire forest?s sustainability under silvopastoral use along with biodiversity conservation issues are presented.