Economical Viability of Silvopastoral Systems with Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum Barneby and Tectona grandis in Para, Brazil

Abstract

The silvopastoral systems (SPSs) have been considered promising to integrate tree crops in livestock production systems and reclain large areas of degraded pastures of the Brazilian Amazon. They are used on small scale by innovative farmers, the SPSs lack a scientific basis to provide technical subsidies to its wider use, especially when it comes to justifying the economic viability of these systems. The objective of this study was to analyze the economical viability of SPSs, established in farms areas used by producers in the Northeast State of Para and comparing to the traditional monoculture. The systems are composed basically by parica (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby) or teak (Tectona grandis L. F.) in kikuyu grass (Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick) under cattle grazing. The analysis of economical viability was realized by the indicators: net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit-cost ratio (Rb/c), considering the four models of SPSs and monoculture of parica and teak. The systems composed by teak are economically more attractive than that with paricá, and among all silvopastures arrangements, when the livestock cattle was owned himself were considered better viability than the systems in monoculture or in which the animal incorporation was rental by pasture.