Livestock is the most important economic activity in San Vicente del Caguán municipality, Caquetá department (located in Colombian Amazon region). Indeed, livestock activities have a big responsibility of Colombian Amazon forest deforestation for extensive grazing lands formation, causing soil degradation processes. However, recently some cattle ranchers have changed their thoughts to a sustainable production, applying different ecological strategies. So, application of silvopastoral systems, which is a very important mode of agroforestry, consists that in the same area and time, it can interact in the ecosystem stratums different species among grasses, shrubs, and trees. On this way, the objective of this study is to determine descriptively the arboreal/arbustive component associated to livestock systems, represented according to its uses in San Vicente del Caguán, Colombia. It was made through a direct survey to 13 smallholders in this municipality. As a result, mainly, we found 58 plant species (49 arboreal and nine arbustive, corresponding to 84.48% and 15.52%, respectively). Of these, 20 species had more than one use at a time. In fact, the shade was the use most common with 29 species, corresponding to 34.94% of total species (25 arboreal and just four arbustive, corresponding to 30.12% and 4.82%, respectively). On this way, according to smallholders surveyed, we can conclude that shade provided by trees integration in silvopastoral systems is for diminishing heat stress on cattle caused by enduring climate change of tropical, thus contributing to good welfare for animals.
KeywordsAmazoniaAgroforestryDeforestationShade TreesSilvopastoral Systems
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario—ICA. (2017) Censo Pecuario Nacional. Censo Bovino en Colombia. https://www.ica.gov.co/Areas/Pecuaria/Servicios/Epidemiologia- Veterinaria/Censos-2016/Censo-2017.aspx2008.aspx
Alcandía de San Vicente del Caguán—Caquetá. (2016) Información General. http://www.sanvicentedelcaguan-caqueta.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml
Pena-Venegas, C.P. and Cardona, G.I. (2010) Dinámica de los suelos amazónicos: Procesos de degradación y alternativas para su recuperación (No. LC-0596). Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas—Sinchi. [Dynamics of Amazonian Soils: Degradation Process and Alternatives for Their Recovery (No.LC-0596).] Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, Bogotá, D.C.
Murcia, G.U., Huertas, C.M., Rodríguez, J.M. and Castellanos, H.O. (2011) Monitoreo de los bosques y otras coberturas de la Amazonia Colombiana, a escala 1:100.000. [Monitoring of Forests and Other Coverages of the Colombian Amazon, at a Scale of 1:100,000. Multitemporal Changes in the Period 2002 to 2007.] Cambios multitemporales en el periodo 2002 al 2007. Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científica—Sinchi. Bogotá, D.C.
Siavosh, S., Rivera, J. and Gómez, M. (2000) Impacto de sistemas de ganadería sobre las características físicas, químicas y biológicas de suelos en los Andes de Colombia. [Impact of Livestock Systems on the Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Soils in the Andes of Colombia.] In conferencia electrónica de la FAO: agroforestería para la producción animal en Latinoamérica.
Durant, D., Tichit, M., Kerneis, E. and Fritz, H. (2008) Management of Agricultural Wet Grasslands for Breeding Waders: Integrating Ecological and Livestock System Perspectives—A Review. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17, 2275-2295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9310-3
Calle, Z., Murgueitio, E., Chará, J., Zuluaga, A.F., Uribe, F., Galindo, A., Solarte, L.H. and Calle, A. (2013) Integrating Sustainable Cattle Ranching, Forestry and Landscape Restoration into Intensive Silvopastoral Systems. In New Frontiers in Tropical Biology: The Next 50 Years (A Joint Meeting of ATBC and OTS).
Swaminathan, M.S. (1987) The Promise of Agroforestry for Ecological and Nutrition Security. In: Steppler, H.A. and Nair, P.R., Eds., Agroforestry: A Decade of Development, International Council for Research in Agroforestry—ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya, 25-41.
Nair, P.R. (1993) An Introduction to Agroforestry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1608-4
Ibrahim, M., Guerra, L., Casasola, F. and Neely, C. (2010) Importance of Silvopastoral Systems for Mitigation of Climate Change and Harnessing of Environmental Benefits. Grassland Carbon Sequestration: Management, Policy and Economics, 11, 189.
Musálem-Santiago, M.á. (2002) Sistemas agrosilvopastoriles: una alternativa de desarrollo rural sustentable para el trópico mexicano. [Impact of Livestock Systems on the Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Soils in the Andes of Colombia.] Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente, 8, 91-100.
Montagnini, F. (1992) Sistemas agroforestales: principios y aplicaciones en los trópicos (No. 634.99/M764). [Agroforestry Systems: Principles and Application in the Tropics (No. 634.99/M764).] Organización para estudiostropicales.
Murgueitio, E., Xóchitl, F.M., Calle, D.Z., Chará, J.D., Barahona, R., Molina, D.C. and Uribe, T.F. (2015) Productividad en sistemas silvopastoriles intensivos en América Latina. [Productivity in Intensive Silvopastoral Systems in LatinAmerica.] In: Montagnini, F., Somarriba, E., Murgueito, E., Fassola, H. and Eibl, B., Eds., Sistemas agroforestales: funciones productivas, socioeconómicas y ambientales, CIPAV, CATIE, Cali, 59-102.
Camacho, R.L. and López, D.C. (2002) Manual de identificación de especies maderables objeto de comercio en la Amazonia colombiana. [Productivity in Intensive Silvopastoral Systems in Latin America.] Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas “SINCHI”.
Camacho, R.L. and Montero, M.I. (2005) Manual de identificación de especies forestales con manejo certificable por comunidades. [Identification Handbook of Forest Species with Certifiable Management by Communities.] Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas “SINCHI”.
López, D.C., Arboleda, N.C. and Toro, J.C. (2011) Plantas introducidas, establecidas e invasoras en Amazonia colombiana. [Introduced, Established and Invasive Plants in Colombian Amazonia.] Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas “SINCHI”.
Moran, E.F., Brondizio, E., Mausel, P. and Wu, Y. (1994) Integrating Amazonian Vegetation, Land-Use, and Satellite Data. BioScience, 44, 329-338. https://doi.org/10.2307/1312383
Foley, J.A., Asner, G.P., Costa, M.H., Coe, M.T., DeFries, R., Gibbs, H.K., Howard, E.A., Olson, S., Patz, J., Ramankutty, N. and Snyder, P. (2007) Amazonia Revealed: Forest Degradation and Loss of Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Amazon Basin. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5, 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295(2007)5[25:ARFDAL]2.0.CO;2
Tiessen, H., Cuevas, E. and Chacon, P. (1994) The Role of Soil Organic Matter in Sustaining Soil Fertility. Nature, 371, 783-785. https://doi.org/10.1038/371783a0
Grau, O., Penuelas, J., Ferry, B., Freycon, V., Blanc, L., Desprez, M. and Guitet, S. (2017) Nutrient-Cycling Mechanisms Other Than the Direct Absorption from Soil May Control Forest Structure and Dynamics in Poor Amazonian Soils. Scientific Reports, 7, 45017. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45017
Ge, X., Zeng, L., Xiao, W., Huang, Z., Geng, X. and Tan, B. (2013) Effect of Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Nutrients on Forest Litter Decomposition: A Review. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 33, 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2013.01.006
Murgueitio, R. (1999) Reconversión ambiental y social de la ganadería bovina en Colombia. [Environmental and Social Reconversion of Bovine Cattle in Colombia.] Fundación CIPAV.
Skole, D.L., Chomentowski, W.H., Salas, W.A. and Nobre, A.D. (1994) Physical and Human Dimensions of Deforestation in Amazonia. BioScience, 44, 314-322. https://doi.org/10.2307/1312381
Sadeghian, S. (2003) Impacto de la ganadería sobre el suelo, alternativas sostenibles de manejo. [Impact of Livestock on Soil, Sustainable Management Alternatives.] In SIMPOSIO Nacional de Ganadería Ecológica.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO (2006) Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options. FAO, Rome.
Sánchez, S., Hernández, M. and Ruz, F. (2011) Alternativas de manejo de la fertilidad del suelo en ecosistemas agropecuarios. [Alternatives for the Management of Soil Fertility in Agricultural Ecosystems.] Pastos y Forrajes, 34, 375-392.
Caicedo-Llano, N. (2014) A Methodology to Select a Group of Species among 131 Tropical (Colombian) Species for Bowed Timber Applications. Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología, 16, 245-264. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-221X2014005000020
Heuzé, V., Tran, G., Bastianelli, D. and Lebas, F. (2015) Guava (Psidiumguajava). Feedipedia, Animal Feed Resources Information System, INRA CIRAD AFZ and FAO. http://agritrop.cirad.fr/582480/7/ID582480_ENG.pdf
Olivares-Pérez, J., Rojas-Hernández, S., Avilés-Nova, F., Camacho-Díaz, L.M., Cipriano-Salazar, M., Jiménez-Guillén, R. and Quiroz-Cardozo, F. (2016) Uses of Non-Leguminous Trees in Silvopastoral Systems in the South of the State of Mexico. Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios, 3, 193-202.
Soni, M.L., Subbulakshmi, V., Yadava, N.D., Tewari, J.C. and Dagar, J.C. (2016) Silvopastoral Agroforestry Systems: Lifeline for Dry Regions. In: Dagar, J.C. and Tewari, J.C., Eds., Agroforestry Research Developments: Anecdotal to Modern Science. Agroforestry Research Developments, 1. Nova Science Publisher, Inc., New York, 245-305.
Awotoye, O.O., Ogunbanjo, O.R., Jeminiwa, S.M., Okanlawon, F.B. and Oyelami, B.A. (2016) Comparative Evaluation of Fodder Yield and Leaf Quality of Some Selected Tree Species. Environment and Ecology Research, 4, 116-118.
Edvan, R., Carneiro, M., Magalhaes, J., Albuquerque, D., Silva, M., Bezerra, L., Oliveira, R. and Santos, E. (2014) The Forage Yield of Gliricidia sepium during the Rainy and Dry Seasons Following Pruning Management in Brazil. Ciencia e Investigación Agraria, 41, 309-316. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-16202014000300003
Andrade, B.M., de Souza, S.F., Santos, C.M., dos Santos Medeiros, S., da Mota, P.S. and Curado, F.F. (2015) Uso da gliricídia (Gliricidia sepium) para alimentacao animal em Sistemas Agropecuários Sustentáveis. [Use of Gliricidia (Gliricidiasepium) for Animal Feeding in Sustainable Agricultural Systems.] Scientia Plena, 11, 1-7.
Rangel, J.D. and Muniz, E.N. (2011) Implantacao e manejo de legumineira com gliricídia (Gliricidia sepium). [Implantation and Management of Legume Tree with Gliricidia (Gliricidiasepium).] EMBRAPA (Circular Técnica 63), 5 p.
Fasola, T.R., Olagunju, B.O. and Robert, A.B. (2014) Correlating Bark Thickness and Girth of Some Medicinal Trees. International Journal of Environment, 3, 287-301. https://doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i2.10642
Jayasundara, H.P., Dennett, M.D. and Sangakkara, U.R. (1997) Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala and Transfer of Fixed Nitrogen to an Associated Grass. Tropical Grasslands, 31, 529-537.
Villanueva-López, G., Martínez-Zurimendi, P., Ramírez-Avilés, L., Casanova-Lugo, F. and Jarquín-Sánchez, A. (2014) Influence of Livestock Systems with Live Fences of Gliricidia sepium on Several Soil Properties in Tabasco, Mexico. Ciencia e Investigación Agraria, 41, 175-186. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-16202014000200004
Sukanten, I.W., Nitis, I.M., Lana, K., Suama, M. and Uchida, S. (1995) Growth and Fodder Yield of the Gliricidiasepium Provenances in Alley Cropping System in dryland Farming Area in Bali, Indonesia. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 8, 95-200.
Hernández, S. and Benavides, J. (1995) Potencial forrajero de especies lenosas de los bosques secundarios de El Petén, Guatemala. [Fodder Potential of Woody Species of Secondary Forest in El Petén, Guatemala.] Agroforestería en las Américas, 2, 15-22.
Figueroa, J., Sanoja, E. and Delgado, L. (2010) árboles utilizados como productoes forestales no maderables en la cuenca alta del río Botanamo, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela. [Trees Useful as Non Timber Forest Products in the Botanamo Upper River Basin, Bolívar State, Venezuela.] Acta Botánica Venezuelica, 119-135.
Mansanares, K. (2014) Aprovechamiento de servicios ecosistémicos por una comunidad. [Use of Ecosystem Services by a Community.] Revista Cubana de Ciencias Forestales, 2, 45-54.
Neulinger, K., Vogl, C.R. and Alayón-Gamboa, J.A. (2013) Plant Species and Their Uses in Homegardens of Migrant Maya and Mestizo Smallholder Farmers in Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology, 33, 105-124. https://doi.org/10.2993/0278-0771-33.1.105
Phillips, R.W. (1961) World Distribution of the Major Types of Cattle. Journal of Heredity, 52, 207-213. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a107071
Turrialba, C.R. (1982) Sistemas de producción bovina de doble propósito para pequenos productores. [Dual Purpose Cattle Production Systems for Small Producers.] In: Ruíz-Flores, A. and de Vaccaro, L.P., Eds., Sistemas de producción con bovinos en el trópico americano, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigaciones y Ensenanza Programa Agricultura Tropical Sostenible, Maracay Universidad Central de Venezuela, 137-157.
Martínez-Tovar, R.A., Herrera-Valencia, W. and Motta-Delgado, P.A. (2017) Razas y cruces bovinos de doble propósito en el departamento del Caquetá. [Breeds and Crosses of Dual-Purpose Bovines in the Caquetá Department.] Editorial Misión Verde Amazonía: Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible y Mitigación de Cambio Climático. Florencia-Caquetá, Colombia.
Rojo-Rubio, R., Vázquez-Armijo, J.F., Pérez-Hernández, P., Mendoza-Martínez, G.D., Salem, A.Z., Albarrán-Portillo, B., González-Reyna, A., Hernández-Martínez, J., Rebollar-Rebollar, S., Cardozo-Jiménez, D. and Dorantes-Coronado, E.J. (2009) Dual Purpose Cattle Production in Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 715-721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9249-8
Ojango, J., Urbina, M., Benard, M., Corrales, R., Oyieng, E. and Hoek, R.V. (2016) Increasing the Productivity of Dual-Purpose Cattle in Nicaragua through the Use of Appropriate Breed Types and Application of Best Husbandry Practices. Baseline Report on the Production Systems in Camoapa and Matiguas.
Koger, M. (2015) Livestock Improvement in Tropical America. Revista Ceiba, 9, 41-49.
Tucker, C.B., Rogers, A.R. and Schütz, K.E. (2008) Effect of Solar Radiation on Dairy Cattle Behaviour, Use of Shade and Body Temperature in a Pasture-Based System. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 109, 141-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.03.015
Sossidou, E.N., Tsiplakou, E. and Zervas, G. (2014) Options for Managing Livestock Production Systems to Adapt to Climate Change. Journal of Earth Science and Engineering, 4.
Kerr, S.R. (2015) Livestock Heat Stress: Recognition, Response, and Prevention. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet (FS157E).
Lopes, L.B., Eckstein, C., Pina, D.S. and Carnevalli, R.A. (2016) The Influence of Trees on the thermal Environment and Behaviour of Grazing Heifers in Brazilian Midwest. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 48, 755-761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1021-x
Karvatte, N., Klosowski, E.S., de Almeida, R.G., Mesquita, E.E., de Oliveira, C.C. and Alves, F.V. (2016) Shading Effect on Microclimate and Thermal Comfort Indexes in Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest Systems in the Brazilian Midwest. International Journal of Biometeorology, 60, 1933-1941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1180-5
Broom, D.M., Galindo, F.A. and Murgueitio, E. (2013) Sustainable, Efficient Livestock Production with High Biodiversity and Good Welfare for Animals. Proceedings of the Royal Society, 280, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2025
Ainsworth, J.A., Moe, S.R. and Skarpe, C. (2012) Pasture Shade and Farm Management Effects on Cow Productivity in the Tropics. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 155, 105-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.04.005
Paciullo, D.S., Castro, C.R., Gomide, C.A., Fernandes, P.B., Rocha, W.S., Müller, M.D. and Rossiello, R.O.P. (2010) Soil Bulk Density and Biomass Partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a Silvopastoral System. Scientia Agricola, 67, 598-603. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162010000500014
Peri, P.L., Dube, F. and Varella, A.C. (2016) Silvopastoral Systems in the Subtropical and Temperate Zones of South America: An Overview. In: Peri, P., Dube, F. and Varella, A., Eds., Silvopastoral Systems in Southern South America, Advances in Agroforestry, Vol. 11, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24109-8_1
Montagnini, F., Ibrahim, I. and Murgueitio, E. (2013) Silvopastoral Systems and Climate Change Mitigation in Latin America. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques, 316, 3-16.
Nitis, I.M. (1997) Silvipastural Systems in Tropical Context. XVIII International Grassland Congress 2000.
Nahed-Toral, J., Valdivieso-Pérez, A., Aguilar-Jiménez, R., Cámara-Cordova, J. and Grande-Cano, D. (2013) Silvopastoral Systems with Traditional Management in Southeastern Mexico: A Prototype of Livestock Agroforestry for Cleaner Production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 57, 266-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.06.020
Gaitán, L., Laderach, P., Graefe, S., Rao, I. and van der Hoek, R. (2016) Climate-Smart Livestock Systems: An Assessment of Carbon Stocks and GHG Emissions in Nicaragua. PloS One, 11, e0167949. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167949