Livestock integration into soybean systems improves long‐term system stability and profts without compromising crop yields

Abstract

Climate models project greater weather variability over the coming decades. High yielding systems that can maintain stable crop yields under variable environmental scenarios are critical to enhance food security. However, the efect of adding a trophic level (i.e. herbivores) on the long-term stability of agricultural systems is not well understood. We used a 16-year dataset from an integrated soybean- beef cattle experiment to measure the impacts of grazing on the stability of key crop, pasture, animal and whole-system outcomes. Treatments consisted of four grazing intensities (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm sward height) on mixed black oat (Avena strigosa) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiforum) pastures and an ungrazed control. Stability of both human-digestible protein production and proftability increased at moderate to light grazing intensities, while over-intensifcation or absence of grazing decreased system stability. Grazing did not afect subsequent soybean yields but reduced the chance of crop failure and fnancial loss in unfavorable years. At both lighter and heavier grazing intensities, tradeofs occurred between the stability of herbage production and animal live weight gains. We show that ecological intensifcation of specialized soybean systems using livestock integration can increase system stability and proftability, but the probability of win–win outcomes depends on management.