Author(s): CARVALHO, M. T. de M.; MACHADO, P. L. O. de A.; FERREIRA, C. M.; FREITAS, F. M. C.; RIZZO, P. V.; PACHECO, A. R.; MADARI, B. E.

Summary: The objective of this study was to estimate CO2-eq emissions from milk production and evaluate the potential of integrated livestock-forest system to mitigate emissions via Carbon stocked in soil and eucalyptus trees in Santa Barbara Farm located in the State of Goiás, Central West region of Brazil, within the savanna biome (Cerrado). Tropical soils in the Cerrado are one of the most ancient in the world and therefore long-date weathered. In 2016, integrated livestock-forest system (ILF) was implemented in a pasture on a Geric Xanthic Ferralsol (Dystric Humic). Soil organic C (Corg) stocks in the Ferralsol were around 6 to 7 Mg ha-1 within 0.0-0.3 m layer. In the 4-year old ILF system, there were an extra 0.441 Mg ha-1 Corg stock related to same soil under continuous pasture within 0.0-1.0 m layer. The estimated total emission due to dairy production per year at farm level was around 520 Mg CO2-eq or 142 Mg of C emitted to atmosphere. Most of emissions were related to animal feeding (58%). Considering total Corg stocks in 1-m depth of soil and 2-years old eucalyptus trees in the ILF system, yet the C balance was positive, indicating emission of 102.93 Mg of C to the atmosphere due to the present dairy production system conducted at Santa Barbara farm. At 4 years after implementation, the ILF system was a sink of 38.94 Mg of C from atmosphere, offsetting around 28% of total emissions, a significant number once the farmer intends to keep and increment the ILF area in order to sustain milk production levels due to thermal comfort delivered to the cows by trees.

Publication year: 2023

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Rice & Beans

Keywords: Carbon, Carbono, Cerrado, Compensação, Cool farm tool, Dairy farming, Estoque de Carbono, Eucalipto, Eucalyptus, Floresta, Goiás, Pecuária, Produção Leiteira, Savannas, Sistema integrado, Solo