Energy conversion and balance of crop-livestock production systems under no-tillage

Abstract

The integration of livestock and farming (ILP) may provide benefits to the farmer, such as greater diversification of crops, lower power consumption and lower risk costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy conversion and the energy balance of crop -livestock production system integration (ILP) under no-tillage system, from 1997 to 2008 in Passo Fundo, RS. Treatments consisted of five ILP production systems: system I - wheat/soybean, white oats/soybean and vetches/corn; system II - wheat/ soybean, white oats/soybean and black oats pasture + vetches/maize; system III - perennial pastures of the cold season (festuca + white + red clover clover + birdsfoot trefoil); system IV- perennial pasture of the hot season (Pensacola grass + black oat + rye grass + red and white clover + birdsfoot trefoil); and system V- alfalfa hay. However, in the summer of 2002, systems III, IV and V, the crop returned to the pasture and vice-versa. Corn was the specie which presented higher energy return in comparison to the other grain crops and winter and summer annual pastures. The systems I, III, IV and V showed most efficient energy conversion. The crops-livestock production system under no tillage is viable, and also showed positive energy conversion and balance.