INVESTIGADORES
MARTINEZ CARRETERO Eduardo Enrique
artículos
Título:
Reserve paddock as an agroforestry technique in the arid lands of Mendoza, Argentina
Autor/es:
E. MARTINEZ CARRETERO; DALMASSO, A.
Revista:
MULTEQUINA
Editorial:
INCA
Referencias:
Año: 2014 vol. 23 p. 1 - 12
ISSN:
0327-9375
Resumen:
In the arid lands in the northeast of Mendoza province (Argentina) the only possible subsistence
economy is extensive livestock breeding. Mean plant cover in the area is 45%. Natural vegetation
is dominated by open forests of Prosopis flexuosa DC associated with a shrub layer of Atriplex
lampa Gill. ex Moq. The present carrying capacity ranges between 7.5 and 2.12 ha per animal
unit, at sites in poor and good conditions respectively. The only alternative agroforestry technique
in this region is selecting areas as reserve paddocks and enriching them with native fodder
species. A total yield of 489.5 kgDM/ha/year could be reached in these areas by combining
plant species such as A. lampa, Tricomaria usillo Gill. ex H. et A., Lycium chilense Miers ex Bert.,
and Prosopidastrum globosum (Gill. ex Hook. et Arn.) Burk. with P. flexuosa. Such association
would allow for a carrying capacity of 0.8 ha per animal unit. Reserve paddocks ensure a richin-
protein forage supply in critical periods (November-January). Their management involves
two-hour grazing a day, alternating natural range with the reserve paddock. Reserve paddocks
allow increased offer of marketable kids from the same herd of mother goats, since the latter
obtain better nourishment without exerting additional grazing pressure.