Agropastoral systems for the tropical savannas of Latin America

The savanna ecosystem of tropical Latin America (250 million hectares) is rapidly being incorporated into agricultural production, mostly monocropping and pastures, in response to population increase, demand for food, and, at the production level, demand for certain crops. In some savannas (e.g., the Brazilian Cerrados), such exploitation is degrading the land through erosion, soil compaction, loss of organic matter, inappropriate grazing, and pest and weed infestation at a rate of 2%-4% per year, which demonstrates unsustainability. This book presents agropastoral systems (zero and minimal cultivation, integration of crops and pastures) as alternatives to check the degradation of this tropical ecosystem throughout the entire region. Also described are the research, progress, and conclusions as expressed at meetings of the Agropastoral Network for the Savannas, held in Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia between 1992 and 1996. Researchers, farmers, extension workers, students, and policy makers will all recognize the usefulness of this work.