Long-term relationships of beef and dairy cattle and greenhouse gas emissions: Application of co-integrated panel models for Latin America

The cattle sector plays a pivotal role in the economies of numerous Latin American and Caribbean countries. However, it also exerts a significant impact on environmental degradation, including substantial contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (accounting for 23.5 % of global livestock emissions) and deforestation (70 % attributed to livestock in South America). This article aims to investigate the complex, long-term, and short-term relationships between population growth, pastureland expansion, deforestation, and the cattle sector in 15 countries across the region, focusing on their effects on greenhouse gas emissions as well as beef and dairy production. Utilizing data from FAOSTAT spanning the period from 1990 to 2019, a cointegrated panel model was developed using the Pooled Mean Group technique, resulting in the estimation of six models. The aggregate-level results for the region reveal the presence of relatively stable long-term relationships. This implies that over time, the influence of population growth, pastureland expansion, and deforestation on greenhouse gas emissions from cattle production tends to diminish in significance. This long-term behavior may be particularly pronounced in countries with more developed cattle sectors, where efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of cattle production, such as promoting improved forage technologies, silvo-pastoral systems, grazing management practices, and the implementation of policies, regulatory frameworks, and incentives, have gained traction. These progressive countries can serve as regional benchmarks, and the lessons they have learned hold valuable insights for the sustainable intensification of cattle production in countries with less-developed cattle sectors.

Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective

Cattle production in Colombia has an important social and economic role but causes considerable environmental impacts, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by ruminants, particularly methane. Thus, technological innovations aimed at reducing these impacts must focus on both economic and environmental sustainability. Silvo-pastoral systems (SPS) offer productivity increases while generating environmental benefits and ecosystem services and are therefore at the center of debate around sustainable production alternatives. The objective of this article is to evaluate the economic-environmental performance of two proposed SPS for a cattle fattening system for the Colombian context: (i) Urochloa brizantha cv. Toledo and (ii) Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman, both in association with Leucaena leucocephala trees for browsing and shade provision. They are compared with the respective base scenarios of only using the grasses in monocultures. The study consists of a financial analysis, which estimates potential profitability increases in beef production in the SPS, and an environmental evaluation, which estimates the monetary values of microclimatic regulation and reduction of methane emissions. The value of methane emission reductions is then integrated into a combined economic-environmental evaluation. Results show that both SPS improve the profitability indicators of the production system and reduce the probability of economic loss. Likewise, the reduction of methane emissions in the SPS is estimated at US$6.12 per cattle, and the economic value of microclimatic regulation at US$2,026 per hectare.

Planning Spatial Layout of a Typical Salt Tolerant Forage of Sweet Sorghum in the Yellow River Delta via Considering Resource Constraints, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Economic Benefits

In order to effectively address the issue of severe soil salinization in the coastal area of the Yellow River Delta, which has led to a significant number of medium and low-yield fields in this region, and to satisfy the rising demand for feed grain in China in recent years, a highly effective solution is to replace conventional crops by cultivating a specialized type of forage grass that can withstand high salinity levels and is well adapted to the local climate. This study proposed a spatial layout scheme for planting salt-tolerant forages, with the aim of providing a foundation for enhancing saline-alkali land and increasing resource utilization efficiency. The results showed that the climate conditions in the Yellow River Delta were suitable for planting sweet sorghum. With respect to soil salt content, the suitable planting regions for sweet sorghum can be classified into four categories: Suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable, with soil salt concentrations of 2.62-5.25‱, 5.25-7.88‱, respectively. Concerning economic benefits, sweet sorghum's input-output ratio (74.4%) surpasses that of cotton in high saline-alkali zones, providing a significant advantage in comparison with traditional crops. In non-saline-alkali and light saline-alkali areas, the traditional winter wheat-summer maize planting system offers higher economic benefits and nitrogen use efficiency, so it is recommended to maintain this system as the dominant agricultural model. In moderately and severe saline-alkali zones, although one-season maize exhibits greater nitrogen efficiency, its economic benefits are lower than those of sweet sorghum. Hence, it is advisable to promote one-season maize in suitable regions and introduce salt-tolerant forage, such as sweet sorghum in other areas. This approach offers novel ideas and methods for crop spatial layout planning and addresses potential feed grain shortages in the region.

Isolating the species element in grass pollen allergy: A review

Grass pollen is a leading cause of allergy in many countries, particularly Europe. Although many elements of grass pollen production and dispersal are quite well researched, gaps still remain around the grass species that are predominant in the air and which of those are most likely to trigger allergy. In this comprehensive review we isolate the species aspect in grass pollen allergy by exploring the interdisciplinary interdependencies between plant ecology, public health, aerobiology, reproductive phenology and molecular ecology. We further identify current research gaps and provide open ended questions and recommendations for future research in an effort to focus the research community to develop novel strategies to combat grass pollen allergy. We emphasise the role of separating temperate and subtropical grasses, identified through divergence in evolutionary history, climate adaptations and flowering times. However, allergen cross-reactivity and the degree of IgE connectivity in sufferers between the two groups remains an area of active research. The importance of future research to identify allergen homology through biomolecular similarity and the connection to species taxonomy and practical implications of this to allergenicity is further emphasised. We also discuss the relevance of eDNA and molecular ecological techniques (DNA metabarcoding, qPCR and ELISA) as important tools in quantifying the connection between the biosphere with the atmosphere. By gaining more understanding of the connection between species-specific atmospheric eDNA and flowering phenology we will further elucidate the importance of species in releasing grass pollen and allergens to the atmosphere and their individual role in grass pollen allergy.

Potential Forage Hybrid Markets for Enhancing Sustainability and Food Security in East Africa

The cattle sector is strategic for both the economic development and food security of Africa, but the low availability and quality of forage puts the most vulnerable population at risk. Hybrid forages are an alternative for enhancing both food security and sustainability of the sector but adoption levels are still low in Africa, which is related to various factors such as the availability of seeds. This document analyzes potential markets for new interspecific hybrids of Urochloa and potential hybrids of Megathyrsus maximus, adapted to the environmental conditions of eastern and partially western Africa, applying a four-step methodology based on estimating (i) required forage amounts for each country according to its dairy herd, (ii) potential hectares for forage cultivation based on (i), (iii) hectares that can be covered by the two hybrids of interest according to a Target Population of Environment approach, and (iv) potential market values for each country and hybrid. The results show a potential market of 414,388 ha for new interspecific hybrids of Urochloa and 528,409 ha for potential hybrids of Megathyrsus maximus, with approximate annual values of 73.5 and 101.1 million dollars, respectively. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya hold a market share of 70% for Urochloa, and South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania a 67% market share for Megathyrsus maximus. The results will help different actors in decision-making, i.e., regarding private sector investments in forage seed commercialization or public sector incentives supporting adoption processes, and thus contribute to increasing food security and sustainability in the region.

Exploring invasive weed biochar as soil amendment: A study on fodder oats productivity and soil biological properties

Biochar is known for the improvement of soil health, fertility, crop productivity, and quality in many agro-ecosystems globally, but information regarding fodder yield, quality, and soil microbial activity responses to biochar application remains very limited. The objective of this study was to prepare biochar from invasive weeds, i.e., Parthenium hysterophorus L. and Lantana camara L., and use it as a soil amendment along with inorganic fertilizers for oats (Avena sativa L.) growth, fodder yield, quality, and soil microbial activities in a two-year pot experiment. Treatments were comprised of control, 100% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizers), 75% RDF along with three doses (2.5, 5.0, and 10 t/ha) of Parthenium hysterophorus L. biochar (PB) and Lantana camara L. biochar (LB), PB (10 t/ha), and LB (10 t/ha). Results showed that application of 75% RDF along with 10 t/ha LB gave significantly higher green (∼8%) and dry (∼7.8%) fodder yield and crude protein (∼6%) and decreased acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) by 5.70 and 6.04% as compared to the 100% RDF treatment. The same treatment had a significantly higher population of bacteria (7.33 × 10⁸ colony forming unit (CFU)/g soil), alkaline phosphatase activity (19.56 μg pNP/g soil/h), microbial biomass carbon (156.67 μg/g soil) and dehydrogenase activity (12.59 μg TPF/g/24 h), whereas the maximum fungal population (13.33 × 10⁴ CFU/g soil) and acid phosphatase activity (14.45 μg pNP/g soil/h) were found in 75% RDF along with 10 t/ha PB and control treatment, respectively. This study concluded that application of invasive weed biochar along with inorganic fertilizers can benefit fodder yield and quality of oats by increasing plant height and number of tillers directly and by improving nutrient availability and water holding capacity (WHC) of soil indirectly, besides improving soil health. The findings from this study will provide a potential strategy for invasive weed management.