Nitrogen balance and efficiency as indicators for monitoring the proper use of fertilizers in agricultural and livestock systems.

The rational use of nutrients is a key factor for the sustainability of agricultural systems. This study aimed to analyze the nitrogen balance and use efficiency, and the valorization of organic residues within integrated systems, in comparison to conventional agricultural and livestock systems. The experiment was assembled in a randomized blocks design with three replicates. Six production systems were compared, grain maize production (CROP) and pasture for beef cattle production (LS), and four ICLS (Integrated Crop-Livestock System) for grain maize and pastures for beef cattle, in 2 years. In order to estimate the nutrients balance, inputs, and outputs at farm levels were considered, and with the results obtained for nutrient balance, the use efficiency was calculated. The CROP presented higher nutrient use efficiency (1.43 kg/ha-1), but at the same time, it resulted in negative contributions for the nutrient balance (-97 kg/ha-1) because of lower amounts of nitrogen in the organic residues (188 kg/ha-1) and lower valuation. The LS and ICLS provided a higher amount of nitrogen (983 kg/ha-1; mean ± 921 kg/ha-1) and valuation of organic residues. The presence of components such as pastures and the animal contribute to a positive production system, while reducing the needs for chemical fertilizers.

Animal production and soil characteristics from integrated crop-livestock systems: toward sustainable intensification.

Sustainable intensification of land-use practices has never been more important to ensure food security for a growing world population. When combined under thoughtful management, cover cropping and crop-livestock integration under no-till systems can benefit from unexpected synergies due to their unique features of plant-animal diversification and complex agroecosystem functions. Mimicking the nutrient coupling/decoupling processes of natural ecosystems by diversifying plant and animal components of no-till integrated crop-livestock operations is an essential feature of the design of agroecological systems that support self-regulating feedbacks and lend resilience while increasing productivity and ecosystem service provision. Focusing on grazing animals as drivers of agroecosystem change, we highlight the benefits of grazed cover crops in rotation with cash crops for primary and secondary production and for soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. However, careful management of grazing intensity is imperative; overgrazing drives soil deterioration, while light to moderate grazing enhances overall system functioning and allows for the generation of emergent properties.