Biometrical applications in tropical pasture and agro-pastoral research

"Biometrical Applications in Tropical Pasture and Agro-pastoral Research" illustrates, through selected Case Studies, the contribution of Biometry to pasture and agro-pastoral research in Tropical Latin America ( TLA ) in the last two decades. Its contribution is represented in research concepts, methodology, and practical research results that help increase land and animal productivity, human welfare, and efficient conservation and management of natural resources.

The selected Case Studies were conducted in various countries of TLA, on the two major ecosystems of the lowland tropics: the Savanna Ecosystem , with 250 million ha, and the Tropical Forest Ecosystem , with 44 million ha. Each Case Study was part of the research agenda and strategy of CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, or International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, based in Cali, Colombia), the RIEPT (Red Internacional de Evaluación de Pasturas Tropicales, or International Network for Tropical Pastures Evaluation), the Agro-pastoral Research Network for the Savanna Ecosystem of Tropical America, and pasture and agro-pastoral research programs from Latin American National Agricultural Research and Development Institutions. Each Case Study aimed at solving concrete research problems of pasture and agro-pastoral research in TLA and has been published in relevant scientific media, especially in those addressing needs of Latin American researchers.

The different Case Studies (presented in chapters 3 to 9) show a "gradient" in research scale: --from controlled, small-plot, multilocational agronomic research conducted at the Experiment Station to characterise and evaluate a large number of forage grass and legume ecotypes, to medium-size grazing experiments conducted to evaluate a smaller number of pastures (grass-alone or grass-legume associations) both at the Experiment Station and at the farm, ending with agro-pastoral experiments aimed at integrating research findings from the two previous research phases into economically attractive pasture-crop production systems--. Chapter 2 is of a conceptual nature. It summarises the role of Biometry in pasture and agro-pastoral research. The last chapter (chapter 10) deals with organisation and resources of Biometry Units in Latin American Agricultural Research Institutions and offers practical recommendations concerning the desired role of the biometrician as a true partner in research teams.

Chapter 3 illustrates the selection process for promising forage grass and legume ecotypes and identifies promising material. Chapter 4 defines "adaptation niches" for an important pasture cultivar identified as promising by the previous case study: the legume Stylosanthes guianensis 184. Chapter 5 presents concepts and methods for the planning, design and analysis of grazing experiments, with emphasis on continuous designs for evaluating beef production. Chapters 6 and 7 present concepts, methods and research solutions concerning the design and analysis of milk and dual-purpose production experiments using Bos taurus and Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows, of different genetic levels, both at the Experiment Station and at the farm. Chapters 8 and 9 discuss concepts, methodology and research results concerning the planning, design and analysis of agro-pastoral experiments for the Savanna Ecosystem of TLA.