SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCIÓN AGROPECUARIA

Introduction to Agricultural Production Systems

Overview of Agricultural Production Systems

• David Leonardo Cañón Morales introduces himself as a student at SENA, focusing on agricultural production systems.

• He defines an agricultural production system as a series of organized and interrelated elements, including agricultural, livestock, and forestry components.

Types of Agricultural Production Systems

Agricultural Production System

• Defined as the combination of techniques, labor, land ownership, and population organization aimed at producing one or more agricultural products.

Livestock Production System

• Focuses on the exploitation of livestock for food products such as meat, wool, milk, eggs, and leather.

Forestry Production System

• Involves scientific management of forests to produce benefits like oxygen production and soil conservation.

Integrated Agricultural Production Models

Definition and Purpose

• Integrated agricultural production systems are diversified models that combine crops, trees, forage plants, and various domestic animal species to reduce risks and dependencies while ensuring self-sufficiency.

Types of Integration Models

Livestock-Crop Integration (Agro-Pastoral)

• This model integrates agricultural and livestock components in rotation within the same area over one or multiple years. Examples include grazing animals directly on cultivated land or using cut forage for feeding. Benefits include natural fertilization from manure reducing chemical fertilizer use.

Livestock-Forest Integration (Silvopastoral)

• Combines livestock with forest components in areas where crop establishment is challenging; it includes trees that can act as live fences to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while providing habitat for wildlife. Advantages include carbon capture and improved soil productivity.

Crop-Forest Integration (Silvo-Agricultural)

• Integrates tree species with crops to optimize space usage; this system allows for economic returns before tree harvest through simultaneous cultivation of crops beneath tree canopies which provide shade and additional resources like fruits. Benefits include better vertical space utilization and enhanced microclimates for plant growth.

Agrosilvopastoral Systems: Enhancing Biodiversity and Production

Integration of Agricultural, Livestock, and Forestry Components

• The agrosilvopastoral system combines agricultural crops, livestock, and forestry to enhance production quality in marginal environments while promoting biodiversity.

• This production system involves rotating and succeeding agricultural components with livestock, integrating forest elements within the same area for optimal resource use.

• Implementation examples include creating living fences with trees to provide shade for animals, reducing stress and improving comfort levels.

• During summer or scarcity periods, forage crops can be planted to ensure a continuous food supply for livestock like bovines and caprines.

• Key advantages include improved food security for producers through better resource utilization, enhanced animal welfare by regulating temperatures, and increased feed quality.

Benefits of Agrosilvopastoral Systems

• The integration leads to higher livestock weight gain due to diverse feeding options beyond just pasture; it includes shrubs that allow for browsing.

• Improved milk production is noted alongside a reduction in mortality rates among livestock due to better overall health from varied diets.