Growth characterization and evapotranspiration estimation of an intensively managed elephant grass pasture

• Grant number: 21/04965-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Agricultural Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Ricardo Marin
• Grantee: Alex da Silva Sechi
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Population growth is increasing the demand forfood worldwide, especially those of animal origin.Thus, it will be necessary to increase the productivity of areas that are already available for livestock. Although Brazil ranks among the world's largest producers of milk and beef, national livestock, which is predominantly extensive, uses mostly degraded or poorly managed pastures. The intensification of livestock systems has been identified as a necessary path for the livelihood of humanity. In this project, the objective is to characterize the dynamics of evapotranspiration of an intensive pastoral production system, in the state of São Paulo, and to characterize the growth of pasture in dry and rainy periods, which will allow us to understand the use of water in this important agrosystem. The results of this work can be compared with evapotranspiration measurements in extensive production systems, already well established in the literature. The methodology includes the use of the eddy covariance method for continuous measurements of latent and sensible heat, which will serve as a basis for the calculation of evapotranspiration. The data will serve as a basis to support studies of seasonal and interannual variability of flows in these agrosystems, which are poorly characterized in Brazil. (AU)