Improvement of thermal comfort indices in agroforestry systems in the southern Brazilian Amazon. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Magalhães, Ciro A.S.; Zolin, Cornélio A.; Lulu, Jorge; Lopes, Luciano B.; Furtini, Isabela V.; Vendrusculo, Laurimar G.; Zaiatz, Ana P.S.R.; Pedreira, Bruno C.; Pezzopane, José Ricardo Macedo
• Is Part Of: Journal of thermal biology. Volume 91(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Heat stress -- Microclimate -- Black globe temperature -- Tropical farming systems -- Animal husbandry; Thermobiology -- Periodicals; Temperature -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Thermobiologie -- Périodiques; Thermobiology; Periodicals; 571.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4565

Abstract

Abstract: Agroforestry systems can minimize heat stress and improve cattle welfare, but the influence of the forest component in microclimatic changes in the southern Amazon remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the thermal comfort indices in grass monoculture and integrated systems. The three systems were pasture under full sunlight (PFS), integrated (triple-row) livestock-forestry (ILFT ), and integrated (single-row) livestock-forestry (ILFs), across four seasons, for two years, from June 2017 to June 2019. We assessed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, relative humidity, black globe temperature, and wind speed. Thermal comfort indices such as temperature-humidity index (THI), black globe temperature-humidity index (BGHI), and radiant thermal load (RTL) were calculated based on microclimate data daily-collected from 8:00 to 16:00. The ILFT mean THI (76.8) was slightly lower than ILFS and PFS. The BGHI and RTL values decreased as shading increased (PFS > ILFs > ILFT ). The most challenging heat stress conditions for grazing animals occurred predominately during winter and autumn. In conclusion, the presence of trees in pastures of the southern Amazon improved the microclimate and, consequently, the thermal comfort indices. Agroforestry systems can foster an environment with a more suitable thermal comfort or less restrictive to animal performance, which contribute to mitigating global climate change for forage-livestock systems in Brazilian Amazon. Highlights: Thermal comfort indices in agroforestry systems in southern Brazilian Amazon were lower than in unshaded pastures . Black globe temperature-humidity and radiant thermal load are more sensitive to differentiate animal production systems. Temperature-humidity index (THI) was not sensitive enough to distinguish areas of stress. Agroforestry systems will help in adapting cattle to the effects of global warming. In southern Brazilian Amazon, the most challenging heat stress conditions occurred predominately during winter and autumn.