GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW
<List> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Grassland-based livestock production systems cover large areas in China.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent>&...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Higher Education Press
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/fileup/2095-7505/PDF/29049/1611994581860-1805505595.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797787023834087424 |
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| author | Fujiang HOU, Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN |
| author_facet | Fujiang HOU, Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN |
| author_sort | Fujiang HOU, Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <List> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Grassland-based livestock production systems cover large areas in China.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• China is facing degradation of rangeland and has great shortage of forage.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Five types of mixed crop-livestock systems in China described.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Improving crop–livestock integration requires ST and policy supports.</p></ItemContent></ListItem></List></p> <fig><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/fase-20378-hfj-tu1.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/FASE-20378-HFJ-tu1.tif"/></fig> <p>Interactions between crops and livestock have been at the core of the evolution of many agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the development and characteristics of mixed crop-livestock systems, with a focus on grassland-based systems, as these cover large areas in China, and face several challenges. Following the transition from the original hunting and foraging systems to a sedentary lifestyle with integrated crop-livestock production systems some 8000 years ago, a range of different mixed systems have developed, depending on rainfall, solar radiation and temperature, culture and markets. We describe 5 main types of integrated systems, (1) livestock and rangeland, (2) livestock and grain production, (3) livestock and crop – grassland rotations, (4) livestock, crops and forest (silvo-pasture), and (5) livestock, crops and fish ponds. Next, two of these mixed systems are described in greater detail, i.e., the mountain-oasis-desert system and its modifications in arid and semi-arid regions, and the integrated crop-livestock production systems on the Loess Plateau. In general, crop-livestock interactions in integrated systems have significant positive effects on crop production, livestock production, energy use efficiency and economic profitability. We conclude that improved integration of crop-livestock production systems is one of the most important ways for achieving a more sustainable development of animal agriculture in China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:16:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-004c62519a1b46208889f8c517183d43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-7505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:16:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Higher Education Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-004c62519a1b46208889f8c517183d432023-07-05T10:06:00ZengHigher Education PressFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering2095-75052021-03-0181354410.15302/J-FASE-2020378GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEWFujiang HOU, Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN0State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.<List> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Grassland-based livestock production systems cover large areas in China.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• China is facing degradation of rangeland and has great shortage of forage.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Five types of mixed crop-livestock systems in China described.</p></ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent><p>• Improving crop–livestock integration requires ST and policy supports.</p></ItemContent></ListItem></List></p> <fig><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/fase-20378-hfj-tu1.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="2095-7505-8-1-35/FASE-20378-HFJ-tu1.tif"/></fig> <p>Interactions between crops and livestock have been at the core of the evolution of many agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the development and characteristics of mixed crop-livestock systems, with a focus on grassland-based systems, as these cover large areas in China, and face several challenges. Following the transition from the original hunting and foraging systems to a sedentary lifestyle with integrated crop-livestock production systems some 8000 years ago, a range of different mixed systems have developed, depending on rainfall, solar radiation and temperature, culture and markets. We describe 5 main types of integrated systems, (1) livestock and rangeland, (2) livestock and grain production, (3) livestock and crop – grassland rotations, (4) livestock, crops and forest (silvo-pasture), and (5) livestock, crops and fish ponds. Next, two of these mixed systems are described in greater detail, i.e., the mountain-oasis-desert system and its modifications in arid and semi-arid regions, and the integrated crop-livestock production systems on the Loess Plateau. In general, crop-livestock interactions in integrated systems have significant positive effects on crop production, livestock production, energy use efficiency and economic profitability. We conclude that improved integration of crop-livestock production systems is one of the most important ways for achieving a more sustainable development of animal agriculture in China.https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/fileup/2095-7505/PDF/29049/1611994581860-1805505595.pdffood security|ruminant agriculture, herbivove agriculture|crop-livestock interaction|energy balance analysis |
| spellingShingle | Fujiang HOU, Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering food security|ruminant agriculture, herbivove agriculture|crop-livestock interaction|energy balance analysis |
| title | GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW |
| title_full | GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW |
| title_fullStr | GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW |
| title_full_unstemmed | GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW |
| title_short | GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW |
| title_sort | grassland agriculture in china a review |
| topic | food security|ruminant agriculture, herbivove agriculture|crop-livestock interaction|energy balance analysis |
| url | https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/fileup/2095-7505/PDF/29049/1611994581860-1805505595.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fujianghouqianminjiashanninglouchuntaoyangjiaoninglanliqingshanfan grasslandagricultureinchinaareview |