Greenhouse gases balance of cattle breeding activity in the Middle-West Region of Brazil: technical bases for a low carbon husbandry

• Grant number: 10/17837-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Clemente Cerri
• Grantee: Carlos Clemente Cerri
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Brigitte Josefine Feigl ; Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri ; Martial Michel Yoric Bernoux ; Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia

Abstract

This proposal aims to estimate the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emitted by grazing cattle in comparison to semi confined animals. The GHG sources to be evaluated include N-fertilization of pastures and crops which are components of the fodder used during the period of confinement, liming, enteric fermentation, decomposition of urine, feces, urine+feces and crop residues, besides the decomposition of animal residues applied to the field. Other sources like fossil fuel burning and electricity will also be accounted. Changes in soil carbon stocks will be determined and deduced from the total emissions to permit the calculation of the systems net emissions. Based on this information, the C-footprint of a kilogram of meet produced in each system will be determined for a same slaughter weight of 1 AU (animal unit). Measurements will be done in lab conditions at CENA/USP and in two field conditions at farms located in Rondônia and Mato Grosso States. These measurements will include the use of incubation chambers and chromatographic analysis of the emitted gases. Soil samples will be taken according to statistic procedures and the total carbon contents determined by auto-analyzers. Statistic will be performed by mean (Tukey), variance (Anova) and correlation (Pearson´s correlation) tests. The findings will help governmental organs to take decisions, mainly in the context of public policies related to reduction of GHG emissions, and give sustainability to meet production in Brazil. In our understanding, the results of this research will be helpful to the recently created program by MAPA "Low Carbon Agriculture". (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COSTA, JR., CINIRO; LI, CHANGSHENG; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.; CERRI, CARLOS C.. Measuring and modeling nitrous oxide and methane emissions from beef cattle feedlot manure management: First assessments under Brazilian condition. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART B-PESTICIDES FOOD CONTAMIN, v. 49, n. 9, p. 696-711, 2014. (12/02642-7, 10/17837-2, 10/05111-7)

COSTA JUNIOR, CINIRO; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.; PIRES, ALEXANDRE V.; CERRI, CARLOS C.. Net greenhouse gas emissions from manure management using anaerobic digestion technology in a beef cattle feedlot in Brazil. Science of The Total Environment, v. 505, p. 1018-1025, FEB 1 2015. (10/05111-7, 12/02642-7, 10/17837-2)

COSTA JUNIOR, C.; CERRI, C. E. P.; DORICH, C. D.; MAIA, S. M. F.; BERNOUX, M.; CERRI, C. C.. Towards a representative assessment of methane and nitrous oxide emissions and mitigation options from manure management of beef cattle feedlots in Brazil. MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR GLOBAL CHANGE, v. 20, n. 3, p. 425-438, MAR 2015. (10/05111-7, 12/02642-7, 10/17837-2)

COSTA JUNIOR, C.; GOULART, R. S.; ALBERTINI, T. Z.; FEIGL, B. J.; CERRI, C. E. P.; VASCONCELOS, J. T.; BERNOUX, M.; LANNA, D. P. D.; CERRI, C. C.. Brazilian beef cattle feedlot manure management: A country survey. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, v. 91, n. 4, p. 1811-1818, APR 2013. (10/17837-2, 10/05111-7)