Reserve padock as an agroforestry technique for arid lands

MARTÍNEZ CARRETERO, E. Y A. DALMASSO

CEPAL- Sgo. Chile

Conferencia; Improving tools against Desertification and Drought; 2009

WAFLA-CEPAL

Enrichment with native shrub species as an agroforestry technique in the arid lands of Mendoza, Argentina In the arid lands in the east of Mendoza (Argentine) the only subsistence economy possible is the extensive cattle. Natural vegetation is dominated by open forests of Prosopis flexuosa with a shrubby layer of Atriplex lampa, and a mean cover of 45 %. The present carrying capacity change between 7.5 ha/equiv. goat (sites in poor condition) to 2.12 ha/equiv.goat (sites in good condition). The only alternative agroforestry in this region consist of  enrichment with native shrubby specie and to select areas as reserve paddocks. In these areas is possible to reach a total yield of 489,8 kgDM/ha/year associating species such as: A. lampa, Tricomaria usillo and Cyclolepis genistoides with P. flexuosa, that allows a carrying capacity of 0.8 ha/equiv.goat. The reserve paddock inssures an offer of fodder rich in protein content in critical periods (September - November); the management of the reserve paddocks implies the grazing during two daily hours alternating natural range with the reserve paddock.