IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agisys/v185y2020ics0308521x20308179.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Damping and lag effects of precipitation variability across trophic levels in Uruguayan rangelands

Author

Listed:
  • Gutiérrez, Francisco
  • Gallego, Federico
  • Paruelo, José M.
  • Rodríguez, Claudia

Abstract

Extensive livestock production is one of the activities that, without requiring habitat conversion, contributes to grassland conservation and human well-being. In Uruguay, approximately 60% of the land is covered by natural temperate grasslands, which are entirely devoted to extensive livestock production, mainly cattle and sheep. In this study we described the spatial and temporal variability of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), net secondary productivity (NSP) and trophic efficiency (TEf) of temperate grasslands in two geomorphological regions of Uruguay (Basaltic “Cuesta” and Eastern Hills), and explored their relationship with the mean and annual precipitation (MAP and PPT, respectively). Specifically, we asked whether Uruguayan grasslands are able to damp precipitation variability at the levels of vegetation and herbivores. Additionally, we searched for lag effects of precipitation on primary and secondary productivity. The study period included seven growing seasons, from 2005 to 2012. PPT, ANPP and NSP were calculated monthly for 32 sections (administrative units) of both regions, and aggregated at the growing season level. NSP-related data included not only livestock numbers, but also livestock births, mortality and transportation, as well as milk and wool production. ANPP showed a clear inter-regional difference, the Eastern Hills region was more productive (69,814 MJ.ha−1.y−1) than the Basaltic “Cuesta” (60,762 MJ.ha−1.y−1). NSP showed no inter-regional differences (742 vs. 754 MJ.ha−1.y−1, respectively) and TEf was higher in Basaltic “Cuesta” (0.0125) than in Eastern Hills (0.0107). As expected, ANPP was strongly determined by the amount of rainfall, both in space and time. Although we did not find a relationship between current year NSP and ANPP, secondary productivity was positively related with PPT and ANPP with a two-year lag in Basaltic “Cuesta”. Also, we found that the interannual variabilities of ANPP and NSP were, respectively, 60 and 40% lower than the variability of precipitation, but contrary to our expectation, NSP was 40% more variable than ANPP. Only 1.17% of the energy captured by grasslands in Uruguay is converted into domestic herbivore production, a value close to the average reported for other grasslands and savannas.

Suggested Citation

  • Gutiérrez, Francisco & Gallego, Federico & Paruelo, José M. & Rodríguez, Claudia, 2020. "Damping and lag effects of precipitation variability across trophic levels in Uruguayan rangelands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:185:y:2020:i:c:s0308521x20308179
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102956
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X20308179
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102956?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diaz-Solis, H. & Kothmann, M.M. & Grant, W.E. & De Luna-Villarreal, R., 2006. "Application of a simple ecological sustainability simulator (SESS) as a management tool in the semi-arid rangelands of northeastern Mexico," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 88(2-3), pages 514-527, June.
    2. Grigera, Gonzalo & Oesterheld, Martin & Pacin, Fernando, 2007. "Monitoring forage production for farmers' decision making," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(3), pages 637-648, June.
    3. Irisarri, J.G.N. & Oesterheld, M., 2020. "Temporal variation of stocking rate and primary production in the face of drought and land use change," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    4. Díaz-Solís, H. & Grant, W.E. & Kothmann, M.M. & Teague, W.R. & Díaz-García, J.A., 2009. "Adaptive management of stocking rates to reduce effects of drought on cow-calf production systems in semi-arid rangelands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 100(1-3), pages 43-50, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paruelo, José M. & Texeira, Marcos & Tomasel, Fernando, 2024. "Hybrid modeling for grassland productivity prediction: A parametric and machine learning technique for grazing management with applicability to digital twin decision systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paruelo, José M. & Texeira, Marcos & Tomasel, Fernando, 2024. "Hybrid modeling for grassland productivity prediction: A parametric and machine learning technique for grazing management with applicability to digital twin decision systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    2. Nasca, J.A. & Feldkamp, C.R. & Arroquy, J.I. & Colombatto, D., 2015. "Efficiency and stability in subtropical beef cattle grazing systems in the northwest of Argentina," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 85-96.
    3. Phillips, Rebecca & Beeri, Ofer & Scholljegerdes, Eric & Bjergaard, David & Hendrickson, John, 2009. "Integration of geospatial and cattle nutrition information to estimate paddock grazing capacity in Northern US prairie," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 100(1-3), pages 72-79, April.
    4. Irisarri, J.G.N. & Oesterheld, M., 2020. "Temporal variation of stocking rate and primary production in the face of drought and land use change," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    5. Iglesias, Eva & Báez, Karen & Diaz-Ambrona, Carlos H., 2016. "Assessing drought risk in Mediterranean Dehesa grazing lands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 65-74.
    6. Pacín, Fernando & Oesterheld, Martín, 2014. "In-farm diversity stabilizes return on capital in Argentine agro-ecosystems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 51-59.
    7. Teague, W.R. & Kreuter, U.P. & Grant, W.E. & Diaz-Solis, H. & Kothmann, M.M., 2009. "Economic implications of maintaining rangeland ecosystem health in a semi-arid savanna," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 1417-1429, March.
    8. Della Nave, Facundo N. & Ojeda, Jonathan J. & Irisarri, J. Gonzalo N. & Pembleton, Keith & Oyarzabal, Mariano & Oesterheld, Martín, 2022. "Calibrating APSIM for forage sorghum using remote sensing and field data under sub-optimal growth conditions," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    9. Pacín, Fernando & Oesterheld, Martín, 2015. "Closing the technological gap of animal and crop production through technical assistance," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 101-107.
    10. Wilton, Allison E. & Fischer, Bart L. & Outlaw, Joe L., 2023. "Managing through Drought with the Livestock Forage Disaster Program," Journal of the ASFMRA, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, vol. 2023, January.
    11. Teague, W.R. & Grant, W.E. & Kreuter, U.P. & Diaz-Solis, H. & Dube, S. & Kothmann, M.M. & Pinchak, W.E. & Ansley, R.J., 2008. "An ecological economic simulation model for assessing fire and grazing management effects on mesquite rangelands in Texas," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 611-624, January.
    12. Wang, Tong & Park, Seong C. & Bevers, Stan & Teague, Richard & Cho, Jaesung, 2013. "Factors Affecting Cow-Calf Herd Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 38(3), pages 1-22.
    13. Becona, Gonzalo & Astigarraga, Laura & Picasso, Valentin D., 2014. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Beef Cow-Calf Grazing Systems in Uruguay," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 3(2).
    14. Rhoda F. Aderinto & J. Alfonso Ortega-S. & Ambrose O. Anoruo & Richard Machen & Benjamin L. Turner, 2020. "Can the Tragedy of the Commons be Avoided in Common-Pool Forage Resource Systems? An Application to Small-Holder Herding in the Semi-Arid Grazing Lands of Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-29, July.
    15. Tinsley, Ty L. & Chumbley, Steven & Mathis, Clay & Machen, Richard & Turner, Benjamin L., 2019. "Managing cow herd dynamics in environments of limited forage productivity and livestock marketing channels: An application to semi-arid Pacific island beef production using system dynamics," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 78-93.
    16. Müller, Birgit & Schulze, Jule & Kreuer, David & Linstädter, Anja & Frank, Karin, 2015. "How to avoid unsustainable side effects of managing climate risk in drylands — The supplementary feeding controversy," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 153-165.
    17. Prost, Lorène & Reau, Raymond & Paravano, Laurette & Cerf, Marianne & Jeuffroy, Marie-Hélène, 2018. "Designing agricultural systems from invention to implementation: the contribution of agronomy. Lessons from a case study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 122-132.
    18. Bilotto, Franco & Recavarren, Paulo & Vibart, Ronaldo & Machado, Claudio F., 2019. "Backgrounding strategy effects on farm productivity, profitability and greenhouse gas emissions of cow-calf systems in the Flooding Pampas of Argentina," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    19. Ravjit Khangura & David Ferris & Cameron Wagg & Jamie Bowyer, 2023. "Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-41, January.
    20. Grigera, Gonzalo & Oesterheld, Martin & Pacin, Fernando, 2007. "Monitoring forage production for farmers' decision making," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(3), pages 637-648, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:185:y:2020:i:c:s0308521x20308179. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agsy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.