USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

First Advisor

Richard Mbatu, Ph.D.

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2023

Date Issued

April 2023

Abstract

Land use changes brought on by agriculture are responsible for both a significant portion of climate change and emissions from livestock. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released from land degradation and deforestation as diverse ecosystems are turned into pastures. Brazil, which ranks among the top four in the world for food production, is a hotspot for agriculture-related deforestation. Currently, Brazil is the largest exporter of beef in the world, which has put a strain on the environment as natural resources are destroyed in order to make room for industry. This thesis looks at and suggests silvopastoral farming systems as a way to reduce deforestation in Brazil and ultimately the effects of livestock on climate change. Silvopastoral systems are agroforestry systems that combine trees, forage plants, livestock, and pastures to produce multi-income operations. Silvopastoral systems work by growing native vegetation and allowing the livestock to participate in rotational grazing. The focus area for this study is Pará, Brazil, with a silvopastoral model designed for Lagoa do Triunfo, a ranch owned by AgroSB. Data was collected using archival research and analyzing existing silvopastoral simulations, which were created using SAFA software. This study came to the conclusion that the most effective silvopastoral system to implement in Pará, Brazil, is composed of mixed grasses and legume pastures, numerous cash crops, and rotational grazing techniques to create a system that livestock can be easily integrated into.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Honors Program University of South Florida, St. Petersburg April 24, 2023.

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