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ISSN: 2346-3775 Vol. 6 No. 1 October 2017 – January 2018 Published by: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia In cooperation with: Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) retains copyright of articles with the work simultaneously licensed under the e Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (to view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Accordingly, users/readers are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit) and to remix (to adapt) the work under the condition of giving the proper Attribution (see creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Editors Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Lyle Winks, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Former editor of “Tropical Grasslands”, Colombia Australia Management Committee Changjun Bai, Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), (CATAS), Colombia P.R. China Cacilda B. do Valle, Robert J. Clements, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa), Agricultural Consultant, Brazil Australia Lyle Winks, Asamoah Larbi, Former editor of “Tropical Grasslands”, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Australia Nigeria Michael Peters, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia Editorial Board Changjun Bai, Albrecht Glatzle, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Iniciativa para la Investigación y Transferencia de (CATAS), Tecnología Agraria Sostenible (INTTAS), P.R. China Paraguay Caterina Batello, Orlando Guenni, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), (FAO), Venezuela Italy Jean Hanson, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Michael Blümmel, Ethiopia International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), India Michael David Hare, Ubon Ratchathani University, Robert J. Clements, Thailand Agricultural Consultant, Australia Mario Herrero, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Myles Fisher, Organisation (CSIRO), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Australia Colombia Masahiko Hirata, Bruce Pengelly, University of Miyazaki, Agricultural Consultant, Japan Australia Peter Horne, T. Reginald Preston, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research University of Tropical Agriculture Foundation (UTA), (ACIAR), Colombia Australia Johann Huguenin, Kenneth Quesenberry, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche University of Florida, Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), USA France Max Shelton, Muhammad Ibrahim, University of Queensland, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza Australia (CATIE), Costa Rica Werner Stür, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Asamoah Larbi, (ACIAR), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Australia Nigeria Carlos E. Lascano, Cacilda B. do Valle, Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa), Colombia Brazil Robert Paterson, Agricultural Consultant, Spain Principal Contacts Rainer Schultze-Kraft International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Colombia Phone: +57 2 4450100 Ext. 3036 Email: [email protected] Technical Support José Luis Urrea Benítez International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Colombia Phone: +57 2 4450100 Ext. 3354 Email: [email protected] Table of Contents Review Papers Tropical forage legumes for environmental benefits: An overview 1-14 Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Idupulapati M. Rao, Michael Peters, Robert J. Clements, Changjun Bai, Guodao Liu Research Papers Soil attributes of a silvopastoral system in Pernambuco Forest Zone 15-25 Hugo N.B. Lima, José C.B. Dubeux Jr, Mércia V.F. Santos, Alexandre C.L. Mello, Mário A. Lira, Márcio V. Cunha Germination of tropical forage seeds stored for six years in ambient and controlled temperature 26-33 and humidity conditions in Thailand Michael D. Hare, Naddakorn Sutin, Supuaphan Phengphet, Theerachai Songsiri Evaluation of growth parameters and forage yield of Sugar Graze and Jumbo Plus sorghum 34-41 hybrids under three different spacings during the maha season in the dry zone of Sri Lanka Hajarooba Gnanagobal, Jeyalingawathani Sinniah Variation in carbohydrate and protein fractions, energy, digestibility and mineral concentrations in 42-52 stover of sorghum cultivars Sultan Singh, B. Venktesh Bhat, G. P. Shukla, Kunwar K. Singh, Deepika Gehrana Short Communications Evaluación de un sistema de manejo de Axonopus catarinensis en rotación basado en el remanente 53-57 de forraje no pastado (Renopa) Daniel R. Pavetti, Marcelo A. Benvenutti, Óscar Radke, Ómar A. Cibils Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales (2018) Vol. 6(1):1–14 1 DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(6)1-14 Review Paper Tropical forage legumes for environmental benefits: An overview Leguminosas forrajeras tropicales para beneficios ambientales: Una sinopsis RAINER SCHULTZE-KRAFT1, IDUPULAPATI M. RAO1,2, MICHAEL PETERS1, ROBERT J. CLEMENTS3, CHANGJUN BAI4 AND GUODAO LIU4 1International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia. www.ciat.cgiar.org 2Presently: Plant Polymer Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, ARS, USDA, Peoria, IL, USA. www.ars.usda.gov 3Formerly: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra, Australia. aciar.gov.au 4Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, Hainan, PR China. www.catas.cn Abstract Ruminant livestock production in the tropics, particularly when based on pastures, is frequently blamed for being detrimental to the environment, allegedly contributing to: (1) degradation and destruction of ecosystems, including degradation and loss of soil, water and biodiversity; and (2) climate change (global warming). In this paper we argue that, rather than being detrimental, tropical forage legumes can have a positive impact on the environment, mainly due to key attributes that characterize the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family: (1) symbiotic nitrogen fixation; (2) high nutritive value; (3) deep-reaching tap-root system; (4) wide taxonomic and genetic diversity; and (5) presence of particular secondary metabolites. Although there are also potential negative aspects, such as soil acidification and the risks of introduced legumes becoming invasive weeds, we submit that legumes have potential to contribute significantly to sustainable intensification of livestock production in the tropics, along with the provision of ecosystem services. To further assess, document and realize this potential, research for development needs in a range of areas are indicated. Keywords: Biodiversity, ecosystem services, GHG emissions, land rehabilitation, soil enhancement, symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Resumen La producción ganadera de rumiantes en el trópico, especialmente cuando es basada en pasturas, frecuentemente es considerada como perjudicial para el medio ambiente, ya que supuestamente contribuye con: (1) la degradación y destrucción de ecosistemas, incluyendo la pérdida de suelo, agua y biodiversidad; y (2) el cambio climático (calentamiento global). En el artículo se exponen argumentos para mostrar que, en lugar de ser perjudiciales, las leguminosas forrajeras tropicales pueden impactar positivamente en el medio ambiente, principalmente debido a sus atributos clave que son característicos de la familia de las Leguminosae (Fabaceae): (1) fijación simbiótica de nitrógeno; (2) alto valor nutritivo; (3) sistema de raíz pivotante profundo; (4) amplia diversidad taxonómica y genética; y (5) presencia de metabolitos secundarios particulares. Aunque se deben reconocer aspectos negativos como la contribución potencial a la acidificación del suelo y el riesgo de convertirse en malezas invasoras, concluimos que las leguminosas forrajeras tienen un potencial significativo para contribuir a la intensificación sostenible de la producción ganadera en el trópico, junto con la prestación de servicios ecosistémicos. Sugerimos una serie de áreas donde se requiere de investigación para evaluar más a fondo, documentar y realizar este potencial. Palabras clave: Biodiversidad, emisiones de GEI, fijación simbiótica de nitrógeno, mejoramiento del suelo, rehabilitación de tierras, servicios ecosistémicos. ___________ Correspondence: Rainer Schultze-Kraft, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Apartado Aéreo 6713, Cali, Colombia. Email: [email protected] Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales (ISSN: 2346-3775) 2 R. Schultze-Kraft, I.M. Rao, M. Peters, R.J. Clements, C. Bai and G. Liu Introduction Environmental issues Feeding the world population is a major challenge for the The main, human-induced environmental problems, as future when one considers that in 2050 there will be an currently perceived, are related to: natural resources, expected >9 billion people on this planet. Consequently, including biodiversity; and climate change. food production must be increased and intensified (FAO Regarding natural resources, it is generally accepted 2010). At the same time, there is growing concern about that the major issues are: (1) ecosystem destruction and the environmental impact of agricultural production, in degradation; (2) soil degradation and loss; (3) water particular of livestock (Steinfeld et al. 2006). While past degradation and loss; and (4) biodiversity degradation and agricultural research focused primarily on increased loss. Obviously, these