Restoring soil carbon and chemical properties through silvopastoral adoption in the Colombian Amazon region

Background:

The traditional livestock production in this region causes the loss of forest areas each year, leading to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Silvopastoral systems have become an attractive alternative with positive effects for the environment, society, and the regional economy. The study was conducted in two counties in the northwestern Colombian Amazon, which are representative of the hilly landscape typical for Silvopastoral systems implementation. 

Goals and methods:

The goals of this paper are to evaluate the impact of transitioning from traditional pastures to silvopastoral systems on soil organic carbon and soil chemical fertility attributes in the Colombian Amazon region. The study aims to provide insights into the potential of silvopastoral systems for restoring soil properties and functions, particularly in degraded areas, and to contribute to the understanding of the ecological and agronomic benefits of silvopastoral systems as a sustainable land management strategy. 

conclusions and Takeaways:

The implementation of silvopastoral systems in the Colombian Amazon region has the potential to significantly increase soil organic carbon stocks, particularly in the 20–30 cm layer, thereby serving as a promising strategy for carbon sequestration in tropical regions.  Additionally, the transition from low-productivity pastures to silvopastoral systems resulted in improvements in soil chemical fertility attributes, positively affecting soil micronutrient content.