Modeling a Sustainable Salt Tolerant Grass-Livestock Production System under Saline Conditions in the Western San Joaquin Valley of California

Sustainability

Máximo F. Alonso¹  Dennis L. Corwin³  James D. Oster⁴  John Maas² 

[1] Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 11315, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile; E-Mail:;Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA; E-Mail:;USDA-ARS United States Salinity Laboratory, 450 West Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California at Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: Bermuda grass;    grazing;    irrigation;    management;    salinity;    simulation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su5093839

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Salinity and trace mineral accumulation threaten the sustainability of crop production in many semi-arid parts of the world, including California’s western San Joaquin Valley (WSJV). We used data from a multi-year field-scale trial in Kings County and related container trials to simulate a forage-grazing system under saline conditions. The model uses rainfall and irrigation water amounts, irrigation water quality, soil, plant, and atmospheric variables to predict Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) growth, quality, and use by cattle. Simulations based on field measurements and a related container study indicate that although soil chemical composition is affected by irrigation water quality, irrigation timing and frequency can be used to mitigate salt and trace mineral accumulation. Bermuda grass yields of up to 12 Mg dry matter (DM)·ha⁻¹ were observed at the field site and predicted by the model. Forage yield and quality supports un-supplemented cattle stocking rates of 1.0 to 1.2 animal units (AU)·ha⁻¹. However, a balance must be achieved between stocking rate, desired average daily gain, accumulation of salts in the soil profile, and potential pollution of ground water from drainage and leaching. Using available weather data, crop-specific parameter values and field scale measurements of soil salinity and nitrogen levels, the model can be used by farmers growing forages on saline soils elsewhere, to sustain forage and livestock production under similarly marginal conditions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.