Temperate silvopastures provide greater ecosystem services than conventional pasture systems

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Ecology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Ecosystem services and sustainable intensification are crucial for growing populations.
• System-level soil-plant-animal health evaluations are needed for conventional and silvopastoral systems.
• Adoption of silvopasture in temperate regions is challenged by a lack of comparative data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the impacts of silvopasture versus conventional pasture on soil quality, microclimate, animal welfare, and productivity.
• To evaluate the potential of temperate silvopastures for enhancing ecosystem services and sustainable intensification.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study of silvopastoral and conventional pasture systems in the mid-southern US.
• Evaluation of soil organic carbon, water content, temperature, microclimate, cattle heat stress, forage quality and yield, and cattle weight gain.
• Assessment of net productivity, including tree, nut, forage, and animal weight.

Main Results:

• Silvopastures exhibited greater soil organic carbon, water content, and overall soil quality.
• Silvopastures maintained lower soil and cattle temperatures compared to conventional pastures.
• Forage production and cattle weight gain were comparable, but silvopasture offered higher net productivity per unit area.

Conclusions:

• Temperate silvopastures enhance ecosystem services through improved soil quality and animal welfare.
• Silvopasture systems provide sustainable agricultural production without compromising productivity, even under climate change.
• Silvopasture systems are more land-efficient, requiring less area for equivalent net productivity compared to conventional pastures.