Damage to eucalyptus caused by cattle in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems with different tree arrangements in western São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the damage caused to trees by beef cattle in integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems with different tree arrangements. The treatments evaluated were the ICLF-1L system, with single lines of eucalyptus (187 trees ha−1), and the ICLF-3L system, with three lines of eucalyptus (446 trees ha−1). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replications. The eucalyptus clone I-224 and Nellore cattle breed were used for this study. The damage caused by cattle to eucalyptus was classified as follows: Tb, trunk breakage; Ti, trunk injury reaching the wood by removing the cambium tissue; Bb, breakage branches greater than 2 cm in diameter; Bi, bark injury without reaching the cambium; Bt, breakage of thin branches and browsing on leaves; and Di, lesions greater than 5 cm in diameter. The damage score was calculated for each tree by the sum of grade the damage that cattle caused to the tree: Tb = 10.0; Ti = 4.0; Bb = 2.0; Bi = 1.5; Bt = 1.0; and Di = 1.0. The diameter at breast height (DBH), height and wood volume of the trees were also evaluated. The frequencies of Ti, Bb and Di were greater in the ICLF-1L system than in the ICLF-3L system (P < 0.05); in contrast, the frequencies of Bt and Bi were greater in the ICLF-3L system. The damage score was greater in the ICLF-1L system (6.61; P < 0.05) than in the ICLF-3L system (4.60). The height was greater in the ICLF-3L system (P < 0.05), and the DBH and individual wood volume did not differ between the systems (P > 0.05). Cattle cause damage to eucalyptus trees regardless of tree arrangement (ICLF-1L and ICLF-3L), but the damages were greater in the ICLF-1L system. Although the damages were more severe in ICLF-1L, tree growth and wood production were the same in both systems. Additional studies should be conducted to assess the impacts of livestock damage in wood quality.