Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains
In the Andean hillsides of Ecuador, indigenous populations use land mainly for grazing sheep and cattle. Animal response depends exclusively on the quality of forage and the soil’s physical and chemical conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate two scenarios for intensifying pastur...
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Universidad Central del Ecuador
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Siembra |
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| Online Access: | https://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/SIEMBRA/article/view/7017 |
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| author | Jorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo Paola Mercedes Palate Moreta Roy Roger Vera-Vélez Raúl Armando Ramos Veintimilla Jean-François Tourrand Arnulfo Portilla Narváez |
| author_facet | Jorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo Paola Mercedes Palate Moreta Roy Roger Vera-Vélez Raúl Armando Ramos Veintimilla Jean-François Tourrand Arnulfo Portilla Narváez |
| author_sort | Jorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo |
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In the Andean hillsides of Ecuador, indigenous populations use land mainly for grazing sheep and cattle. Animal response depends exclusively on the quality of forage and the soil’s physical and chemical conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate two scenarios for intensifying pastures based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens), used at rest periods of 45- and 60 days in sites between 3,000-3,400 m a.s.l. used for grazing sheep and cows. These scenarios were compared with a natural grassland based on a plant community composed of Stipa ichu, Holcus lanatus, Rumex acetocella, and Paspalum sp., used in a traditional system with rest periods of 60-75 days in sites between 3,500-3,700 m a.s.l. in the Chimborazo River micro-watershed. Soil sampling was conducted at both sites to determine the soil fertility profile. Regarding the forage component, chemical composition, animal carrying capacity, milk production, and estimated enteric CH4 emissions were determined. In sheep serum, Ca, P, and Mg profiles, and the activity of AST, ALT, and FA enzymes were analyzed. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey 5% as a means comparison test. The results showed a better physicochemical property of the soil at the lower altitude. The intensification of pasture management and grazing through the utilization of rest periods of 45 days or less may represent a productive and low-emission option.
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Central del Ecuador |
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| series | Siembra |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f3b6476a0bb4fa79a50227609536f022025-02-05T20:33:33ZengUniversidad Central del EcuadorSiembra1390-89282477-88502025-02-0112110.29166/siembra.v12i1.7017Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountainsJorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo0Paola Mercedes Palate Moreta1Roy Roger Vera-Vélez2Raúl Armando Ramos Veintimilla3Jean-François Tourrand4Arnulfo Portilla Narváez5Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Jerónimo Leyton y Gato Sobral s/n. Quito, EcuadorUniversidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Jerónimo Leyton y Gato Sobral s/n. Quito, EcuadorUniversity of Saskatchewan, Department of Plant Sciences. 51 Campus Drive, SK S7N 5A8. Saskatoon, CanadaEscuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Facultad de Recursos Naturales. Riobamba, EcuadorCentre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement-CIRAD. FranciaUniversidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas. Jerónimo Leyton y Gato Sobral s/n. Quito, Ecuador In the Andean hillsides of Ecuador, indigenous populations use land mainly for grazing sheep and cattle. Animal response depends exclusively on the quality of forage and the soil’s physical and chemical conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate two scenarios for intensifying pastures based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens), used at rest periods of 45- and 60 days in sites between 3,000-3,400 m a.s.l. used for grazing sheep and cows. These scenarios were compared with a natural grassland based on a plant community composed of Stipa ichu, Holcus lanatus, Rumex acetocella, and Paspalum sp., used in a traditional system with rest periods of 60-75 days in sites between 3,500-3,700 m a.s.l. in the Chimborazo River micro-watershed. Soil sampling was conducted at both sites to determine the soil fertility profile. Regarding the forage component, chemical composition, animal carrying capacity, milk production, and estimated enteric CH4 emissions were determined. In sheep serum, Ca, P, and Mg profiles, and the activity of AST, ALT, and FA enzymes were analyzed. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey 5% as a means comparison test. The results showed a better physicochemical property of the soil at the lower altitude. The intensification of pasture management and grazing through the utilization of rest periods of 45 days or less may represent a productive and low-emission option. https://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/SIEMBRA/article/view/7017rotational grazingherbivoresemissionsruminants |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Eduardo Grijalva Olmedo Paola Mercedes Palate Moreta Roy Roger Vera-Vélez Raúl Armando Ramos Veintimilla Jean-François Tourrand Arnulfo Portilla Narváez Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains Siembra rotational grazing herbivores emissions ruminants |
| title | Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains |
| title_full | Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains |
| title_short | Assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro-watersheds of high Andean mountains |
| title_sort | assessment of scenarios for intensifying pasture management and grazing in fragile micro watersheds of high andean mountains |
| topic | rotational grazing herbivores emissions ruminants |
| url | https://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/SIEMBRA/article/view/7017 |
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