Silvopastoral systems to prevent soil losses in sustainable livestock systems.

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was incorporated into a geographical information system (GIS) and used to determine soil losses in a specific livestock region of 7646 ha in Jimaguayú, Camagüey, Cuba. One hundred and twelve management units were defined according to their use and soils characteristics. In 3198.5 ha there were soil losses between 10 and 147 t/ha per year distributed in five zones. In order to reduce the losses to less than 10 t/ha per year in these zones, alternative management is proposed - taking into account the results of regionalization programmes of trees, grasses and legumes. The use of silvopastoral systems (SPS) was considered as the main alternative in zones where soil limiting factors allowed it and in other places the establishment of a more productive grass species covering was proposed. In all cases, the most convenient species were selected according to the soil and locally limiting factors.