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Influence of Climate Variability and Soil Fertility on the Forage Quality and Productivity in Azorean Pastures

Author

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  • Catarina D. Melo

    (cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
    CFE—Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PT-3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Cristiana S. A. M. Maduro Dias

    (IITAA—Instituto de Investigação em Tecnologias Agrárias e do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão d’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

  • Sophie Wallon

    (cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

  • Alfredo E. S. Borba

    (IITAA—Instituto de Investigação em Tecnologias Agrárias e do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão d’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

  • João Madruga

    (IITAA—Instituto de Investigação em Tecnologias Agrárias e do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão d’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

  • Paulo A. V. Borges

    (cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

  • Maria T. Ferreira

    (cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
    SRAAC—Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas-Edifício dos CTT Av. Antero de Quental, PT-9500-160 Ponta Delgada, Portugal)

  • Rui B. Elias

    (cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal)

Abstract

This work aimed to determine and compare the effect of elevation and season on the productivity and the nutritive value of pastures in the Azores (Terceira Island). Forage was collected and analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ether extract (EE), mineral ash (Ash), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and organic matter digestibility (OMD). The net productivity (NP) was higher in the low elevation pasture A (1.80 g m −2 ), lower in pasture B (0.98 g m −2 ) and peaked in the winter in both pastures A (3.57 g m −2 ) and B (2.33 g m −2 ) and during the summer in the high elevation pasture C (2.15 g m −2 ). The soil chemical proprieties varied significantly among the three pastures. The highest soil pH, available P, K, Ca and Mg were recorded in pasture A. Positive correlations were observed between all soil parameters analysed and NP, except for the OM content. The DM, PB and EE changed significantly with elevation, while all nutritive parameters (except CP, EE and Ash) increased significantly along the growth season. Environmental factors influenced the nutritive parameters and productivity, suggesting that climate change might have significant impacts on forage production and quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Catarina D. Melo & Cristiana S. A. M. Maduro Dias & Sophie Wallon & Alfredo E. S. Borba & João Madruga & Paulo A. V. Borges & Maria T. Ferreira & Rui B. Elias, 2022. "Influence of Climate Variability and Soil Fertility on the Forage Quality and Productivity in Azorean Pastures," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:3:p:358-:d:762661
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arcesio Salamanca-Carreño & Mauricio Vélez-Terranova & Oscar M. Vargas-Corzo & Pere M. Parés-Casanova & Jannet Bentez-Molano, 2022. "Productive and Nutritional Characteristics of Native Grasses from the Floodplain Banks Ecosystem in the Colombian Orinoquia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Cristiana Maduro Dias & Helder Nunes & Alfredo Borba, 2023. "Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Integration in the Regular Monitorization of Pasture Nutritional Properties and Gas Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Mauricio Vélez-Terranova & Arcesio Salamanca-Carreño & Andrés Mauricio Bejarano-Sánchez & Daniela Alexandra González-Castro & Rubén Darío Higuera-Pedraza & Luis Alfonso Giraldo, 2022. "Nutritional Characteristics and Digestibility of Woody and Herbaceous Native Plants from Tropical Flooded Savannas Ecosystems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, October.

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