Comprehensive evaluation of a silvopastoral system with Abarco (Cariniana pyriformis)
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Introduction: Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are a key strategy for restoring degraded soils and enhancing the sustainability of tropical livestock systems. In Colombia’s Magdalena Medio region, the use of native forest species offers an opportunity to integrate production and conservation. In this context, an SPS incorporating Cariniana pyriformis (Abarco) as the main forest component was evaluated.
Objectives: To assess the performance of a silvopastoral system with Cariniana pyriformis on degraded soils in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia, focusing on forest growth, forage production, and soil quality recovery.
Materials and Methods: The system included grasses (Brachiaria humidicola and Brachiaria decumbens) and forage shrubs (Morus alba L., Trichanthera gigantea, Gliricidia sepium), arranged in a functional design and managed under agroecological principles. Growth of Abarco trees was monitored over 40 months, along with forage production and several soil quality indicators (pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, soil macrofauna, and microbial activity).
Results: Abarco trees reached an average height of 6.36 m and a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 12.19 cm, with a mean diameter growth rate of 0.31 cm/month, allowing for timber harvesting projections at 12 years. The species showed good stem architecture and produced leaf litter rich in N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, contributing to nutrient recycling. Grasses yielded up to 14,960 kg fresh matter/hayear, and forage shrubs exceeded 13 kg fresh matter/shrubyear, with high palatability for livestock. Notable improvements in soil fertility were recorded, including increases in pH, organic matter, and available phosphorus, as well as enhanced soil macrofauna density and microbial activity.
Conclusions: The evaluated silvopastoral system provided both productive and ecological benefits, including biomass generation, functional soil restoration, and shade provision, which reduced animal heat stress and promoted biodiversity. This approach, known as the “Praderas de Felicidad” model, demonstrates the potential of SPS with native species as a viable strategy for transforming tropical livestock systems into more resilient, sustainable, and multifunctional systems.
- Forage shrubs
- Biomass
- Diameter at breast height
- Intensive farming
- Prairies of Happiness
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