Organic matter content in soils of silvopastoral systems established in the Paraguayan Central Chaco

Abstract

The silvopastoral system is characterized by association of livestock, trees and pasture, the interaction between these components provides benefits to the soil, pasture, livestock and trees and allows an increase in productivity and diversification of production. In order to know the influence of the arboreal component of the silvopastoral system on the organic matter content of the soil, an exploratory study was carried out on private properties located in the Boquerón and Presidente Hayes Departments of the Paraguayan Central Chaco. Eight permanent plots of 1 ha each were installed in which all the carob trees (Prosopis spp) were measured and recorded, pasture samples were identified and extracted from subplots of 1 m² that were located under the tree canopy and outside In order to compare the biomass of the pasture, the soil samples were extracted under the mentioned conditions and at two depths, from 0 to 10 cm and from 10 to 30 cm, to compare the content of organic matter, carbon and nitrogen. The tree component was composed of white carob (Prosopis alba) and black carob (Prosopis nigra) associated with implanted pasture, Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv Gatton panic), Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) and Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) mostly. There were no significant differences in the organic matter content, carbon and nitrogen between sun and shade conditions, but they did vary with depth. Under the conditions of the present study, there was no significant influence of the tree component on the content of organic matter.