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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 75(11)

The effect of Tithonia diversifolia in a silvopastoral system with Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés

Vagner Ovani https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2179-5861 A * , Ana Maria Kruger A , Beatriz Elisa Bizzuti A , Simón Pérez-Márquez A , Paulo de Mello Tavares Lima B , Rogério Martins Maurício C , Helder Louvandini A and Adibe Luiz Abdalla A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo CEP: 13400-970, Brazil.

B University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.

C Federal University of São Jõao del Rei, São João del Rei, Minas Gerais CEP: 36307-352, Brazil.

* Correspondence to: vagnerovani@usp.br

Handling Editor: Christian Huyghe

Crop & Pasture Science 75, CP24148 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP24148
Submitted: 9 May 2024  Accepted: 4 November 2024  Published: 19 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Brazilian livestock contributes significantly to pasture-based global animal protein production, but faces economic and environmental challenges due to unsustainable practices. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) offer a promising solution to these issues.

Aims

This study aims to assess the impact of Tithonia diversifolia in a SPS with Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés (Xaraés grass) compared to traditional exclusive pasture (EP).

Methods

The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with eight paddocks (four EP and four SPS with T. diversifolia), grazed by Santa Ines male lambs across six stocking cycles. Herbage biomass production, morphological composition, and nutritive value, animal stocking rate, and proportion of T. diversifolia intake using δ13C were evaluated.

Key results

Xaraés grass biomass production was unaffected by the presence of T. diversifolia in SPS. SPS with T. diversifolia accumulated more total herbage biomass and greater nutritive content than EP. However, Xaraés grass in SPS showed a reduction in leaf fraction and increase in stem and fibrous fractions. T. diversifolia constituted 42.7% of the biomass in SPS, while only 13.74% of fecal carbon originated from it.

Conclusions

SPS with T. diversifolia produces a greater total herbage biomass than EP, but negatively affects leaf fraction and nutritive value of Xaraés grass. Lambs showed a preference and selective intake for Xaraés grass over T. diversifolia.

Implications

Integrating T. diversifolia in SPS can increase herbage biomass, but careful management is necessary to preserve nutritional quality and minimize lamb selectivity.

Keywords: agroforestry, Brachiaria brizantha, Carbon-13, integrated systems, lamb, Mexican sunflower, pasture, tropical grass.

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