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Sustainability in Natural Grassland in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: Livestock Production with CO 2 Absorption

Author

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  • Débora Regina Roberti

    (Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Alecsander Mergen

    (Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Ricardo Acosta Gotuzzo

    (Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande 96203-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Gustavo Pujol Veeck

    (Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Tiago Bremm

    (Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Luciana Marin

    (Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros

    (Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
    In memoriam.)

  • Rodrigo Josemar Seminoti Jacques

    (Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

Abstract

The Brazilian Pampa biome has natural pastures that have been used for centuries for cattle grazing. This is considered a sustainable system because it combines the conservation of natural vegetation and high-quality meat production, protecting the biome from commercial agriculture’s advances. However, whether it is a source or a sink of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has yet to be evaluated. Hence, this study aimed to quantify the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of the CO 2 of a natural pasture of the Pampa biome used for livestock production. The experimental area is located in a subtropical region of southern Brazil, where eddy covariance (EC) measurements were conducted from 2015 to 2021 in a rotational cattle grazing system. The seven months of the warm season (September to March) were characterized as CO 2 absorbers, while the five months of the cold season (April to August) were CO 2 emitters. Throughout the six years and with complete data, the ecosystem was an absorber of atmospheric CO 2 , with an average value of −207.6 g C m −2 year −1 . However, the significant interannual variability in NEE was observed, with cumulative values ranging from −82.0 to −385.3 g C m −2 year −1 . The results suggest the coupling of climatic conditions to pasture management can be the factor that modulated the NEE interannual variability. The cattle raising system on the natural pastures of the Pampa absorbs CO 2 , which is further evidence of its sustainability and need for conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Débora Regina Roberti & Alecsander Mergen & Ricardo Acosta Gotuzzo & Gustavo Pujol Veeck & Tiago Bremm & Luciana Marin & Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros & Rodrigo Josemar Seminoti Jacques, 2024. "Sustainability in Natural Grassland in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: Livestock Production with CO 2 Absorption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3672-:d:1384393
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Luciana V. Gatti & Luana S. Basso & John B. Miller & Manuel Gloor & Lucas Gatti Domingues & Henrique L. G. Cassol & Graciela Tejada & Luiz E. O. C. Aragão & Carlos Nobre & Wouter Peters & Luciano Mara, 2021. "Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 388-393, July.
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