Quantifying economic and biophysical sustainability trade-offs in tropical pastures

• Published in: Ecological modelling Vol. 120; no. 1; pp. 31 - 46
• Main Authors: Bouman, B.A.M., Plant, R.A.J., Nieuwenhuyse, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 03.08.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; CO 2, N 2O and NO emission; Costa Rica; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; General aspects. Techniques; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Laboratorium voor Bodemkunde en geologie; Laboratory of Soil Science and Geology; Livestock; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); WIMEK; Central America; America; Costa Rica; Model; Livestock; CO 2, N 2O and NO emission; Costa Rica; Carbon cycle; Nitrogen cycle; Sustainable agriculture; Tropical zone; Economic aspect; Grazing; Sustainable use
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3800(99)00066-6
• ISSN: 0304-3800

Sustainability of tropical pastures has various economic and biophysical dimensions and is affected by species composition, age and management. The sustainability of pastures in cattle ranching systems was analyzed in terms of economic viability, soil nitrogen stock change, CO 2 loss/sequestration, N 2O and NO emissions, pollution by herbicides, and nitrogen leaching loss, for a case study in the Northern Atlantic Zone of Costa Rica. Development scenarios were explored for the next 25 years based on degradation and yield decline of current pastures, and on possible introduction of grass–legumes and fertilized improved grass species. With degradation of current pastures, gross margin, soil nitrogen stock, nitrogen leaching and N 2O and NO emissions are simulated to decrease in time, whereas CO 2 emission and herbicide use increase. With the introduction of grass–legumes or fertilized grasses, the reverse takes place. The conversion of degraded pasture to grass–legumes or fertilized grasses is calculated to lead to a sequestration of CO 2 of up to 50 ton C ha −1, which might be a potential mechanism in mitigating the greenhouse effect. Quantitative, exploratory studies point out the often conflicting nature of different dimensions of sustainability and show possible pathways of sustainable development.