Effect of the degree and type of tree-planting on milk production in Camagüey

Luis A. Fernández Campo
EEPF Camagüey

ABSTRACT
In our livestock production there is a relevant component, the tree cover; its effects are known but not quantified, and it is necessary to find relations between them and the technical-productive values. The study was conducted in a dairy farm of the Jimaguayú municipality, Camagüey. The soil, pasture and trees were sampled. In the results of the chemical analysis, the pH values fluctuated between slightly acid and acid; phosphorus (P) showed moderate to low values and potassium (K) had moderate to high values. The organic matter (OM) showed normal values (2-3 %). The most frequently observed species were Panicum maximum, Dichantium caricosum and Botriochloa pertusa. A low percentage of native legumes was detected (3 %). In the pasture availability low values were observed oscillating between 0,88 and 1,73 t DM/ha for the dry and rainy season, respectively. The CP in the pastures showed values that varied between 7,8 and 6,8 %. Tree diameter and height depended on the species, size, type of exploitation and age. The factors that determined the biomass production and volume were species and age.L. leucocephala showed specific density of 0,53 coinciding with the results obtained by Hu (1987). The wood of Guazuma ulmifolia is easy to work, with a specific density of 0,55-0,57 Tm/m3 (Little and Wadsworth, 1964; López et al., 1987). Albizia saman and Albizia lebbeck have a specific density of 0,65 and 0,60, respectively, for our conditions. Chudnoff (1984) stated that these species have a specific density of 0,59-0,68, respectively. The results obtained show that for every 4,6 metric ton of carbon sequestered by A. saman 1 liter of milk is produced, having significant differences from L. leucocephala, G. ulmifolia and A. lebbeck, but without significant differences between the last two.