SOIL CO2 AND ENTERIC CH4 EMISSIONS IN PIATÃ GRASS PASTURE INTEGRATED WITH Moringa oleifera OR Tithonia diversifolia IN SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

• Grant number: 24/12362-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Lopes Dias da Costa
• Grantee: Ricardo Lopes Dias da Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Adibe Luiz Abdalla ; Aparecida de Fátima Madella de Oliveira ; Fernando Casanova Lugo ; Flávia Fernanda Simili ; Flavia Maria de Andrade Gimenes ; José Marques Júnior ; Linda Monica Premazzi ; Lumena Souza Takahashi ; Mara Regina Moitinho ; Rodrigo Giglioti

Abstract

Food production is important for the world's supply, and Brazil stands out in terms of productivity and exports of agribusiness products. The livestock sector is significant but suffers from the consequences of being an activity that contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Livestock farming contributes 9% of CO2 to global emissions, 37% of CH4 and 65% of N2O; in addition, this activity reduces the capacity to retain carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), due to the fact that pastoral systems mostly lack tree species, causing soil C and N to be released into the atmosphere. In this context, silvopastoral systems (SSP) are proposed as a viable alternative to extensive livestock farming because they are forms of land use that promote the inclusion of trees and shrubs in pasture areas. Therefore, the objective of the project will be to evaluate and compare the dynamics of soil CO2 emissions and enteric methane in livestock systems with the introduction of Moringa oleifera and Tithonia diversifolia in pastures. To this end, two experiments will be conducted, following treatments with exclusive grass (TC), grass intercropped with Moringa oleifera (TCM) or grass intercropped with Tithonia diversifolia (TCT): Experiment I - Temporal space of soil CO2 emissions; Experiment II - Feeding behavior, performance and enteric methane emissions of sheep in pastures intercropped with grass and Moringa oleifera or Tithonia diversifolia. In experiment I, three paddocks per treatment will be used to evaluate CO2 emissions, soil temperature (Ts) and soil moisture (Us), with the portable infrared CO2 analyzer EGM-5 (Model AGA560). The soil CO2 emission assessments will be carried out in the summer (rainy season) and winter (dry season) seasons of 2025, in the morning, afternoon and evening periods. In experiment II, 32 Dorper x Santa Inês crossbred ewes (8/treatment) will be used, using the same three paddocks/treatment, for 60 days in the summer and winter seasons. Animal performance, forage production and tree growth, tannin content, animal behavior through precision grazing and dynamics of the ingestive process, assessed by behavioral monitoring using an accelerometer (collars) and visual mode, blood biochemical parameters and enteric methane emission will be evaluated. (AU)