Little-known leguminous plant can increase beef production by 60% (2022)
15 days ago
- #greenhouse gas reduction
- #livestock farming
- #sustainable agriculture
- Desmodium ovalifolium intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha increases cattle weight by 60% compared to non-fertilized pastures.
- The legume's impact is equivalent to applying 150 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare annually.
- Time to slaughter is reduced by 30%, lowering costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Desmodium reduces methane emissions from cattle and nitrous oxide by cutting nitrogen fertilizer use.
- The legume persists in pastures for over nine years due to its stoloniferous nature.
- Desmodium's high tannin content aids digestion and further reduces methane emissions.
- Less than 5% of Brazilian pastures use nitrogen fertilizers due to high costs.
- Desmodium seeds can be introduced to pastures via cattle feed for easier establishment.
- Preliminary data suggests methane emission reductions could exceed 10% with desmodium use.