Soil conservation is essential for maintaining food production

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently made a statement, warning of the degradation of a third of the planet's soil, that is, around 33% of the area globally is moderately or highly compromised. Given this important fact, more than ever it is necessary to pay attention to soil conservation and recovery techniques, seeking economically viable and environmentally correct models, so that producers can increase the sustainability of agricultural activities while maintaining high food production.

Among the various possible soil conservation techniques, Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration (ILPF) may be one of the most interesting. By integrating annual crops with the presence of trees and animals, ILPF systems are excellent options for:

• Improvement of the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil;

• Species diversity and crop rotation help control erosion, increase soil porosity and, consequently, water infiltration to restore groundwater;

• Recovery of nutrients lost or drained into deeper layers of the soil, especially by the roots of trees and forage crops;

• Pest and weed control;

• Increased animal welfare and better productive performance of the herd.

According to zootechnician Diogo Rodrigues, doctor in pasture at Soesp – Sementes Oeste Paulista, it is worth remembering that, in addition to promoting greater soil conservation, there are many other environmental, economic and social benefits considered the basis of sustainability, when the ILPF is well -planned and executed. “From an economic point of view, this system allows for an intensification of land use, increasing productivity and profits, in addition to providing greater product diversification”, he highlights.

Soesp customers who implemented ILPF or used brachiaria straw in recent harvests have already reported improvements in corn and soybean production, reflecting the increase in soil quality provided by these systems. An example is Fazenda Aliança, in Querência-MT, which increased production from 49 to 61 bags of soybeans per hectare after three harvests using Ruziziensis Advanced straw.

carbon stock

Results of a survey by Embrapa Agrossilvopastoril (MT) showed the increase in organic matter (carbon stock) in the soil through the increase in straw coverage in the area. The research identified that after two years of cowpea and corn farming, and two years of pasture with Brachiaria Piatã, carbon stocks were statistically similar to the value measured in the native forest of the Permanent Preservation Area located close to the experiment, whose stock of carbon found was 75 tons per hectare (t/ha).

According to the zootechnician, the presence of brachiaria in the production system helps explain the speed of the process of recovering the carbon stock in the soil. Furthermore, the trees in this system also contribute to better soil conservation. “The interaction of the components and the fact that the tree has even deeper roots makes it possible to reduce erosion, cycle nutrients and increase organic matter in the soil”, he highlighted.

There are also other studies that indicate that the volume of soil loss and rainwater runoff are lower in the crop-forest integration system than in the area with just crops. This fact makes it possible to improve the conservation of water resources and consequently the nutrients present in the soil, conserving them.

“Historically, direct planting, the adoption of crop rotation and the increase in the input of plant residues into the system, mainly through the use of cover crops with high dry matter production (Brachiaria spp, for example), are the most recommended techniques to promote soil conservation”, reinforced Diogo.