Silvopastoral systems under native forest in Patagonia, Argentina.

PL PERI; NE HANSEN; HA BAHAMONDE; MV LENCINAS; AR VON MÜLLER; S ORMAECHEA; V GARGAGLIONE; R SOLER ESTEBAN; L TEJERA; CE LLOYD; G MARTÍNEZ PASTUR

Silvopastoral systems in southern South America

Springer

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016; p. 117 - 168

In Patagonia, silvopastoral systems in Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) forest became an economical, ecological and social productive alternative. Patagonia experience with silvopastoral systems is reviewed. The productivity and nutritive value (crude protein content and dry matter digestibility) of understorey grassland was dependent on the interaction of environmental (mainly soil water availability and light intensity) and management factors under the trees. Planned thinning in secondary forest stands provide wood production and also improve the undestorey DM production by increasing incoming radiation. Within a Management Plan, two thinning intensities depending on stands waterstress conditions are proposed as well the use of Reineke´s Stand Density Index (SDI) to assist in the definition of thinning intensities for different canopy covers. Livestock production is the main annual income of silvopastoral systems in N. antarctica forest where cattle and mixed livestock production (cattle+sheep) are the main activity. Animal performance at the whole farm scale is presented by comparing a traditional extensive grazing management with an adaptive silvopastoral management that included strategic separation in homogenous areas (grass steppe, forest and riparian meadows), stocking rateadjustment to grassland net primary production and the protection of regeneration from herbivores browsing by using individual tree guard. Also, data from litter decomposition, nutrients dynamic and carbon storage are informed. Finally, aspects related to criteria and indicator (C&I) to assess ñire forest?s sustainability under silvopastoral use and biodiversity conservation issues are presented.