Quantifying economic and biophysical sustainability trade-offs in tropical pastures

摘要: Abstract Sustainability of tropical pastures has various economic and biophysical dimensions is affected by species composition, age management. The sustainability in cattle ranching systems was analyzed terms viability, soil nitrogen stock change, CO 2 loss/sequestration, N O NO emissions, pollution herbicides, leaching loss, for a case study the Northern Atlantic Zone Costa Rica. Development scenarios were explored next 25 years based on degradation yield decline current pastures, possible introduction grass–legumes fertilized improved grass species. With gross margin, stock, emissions are simulated to decrease time, whereas emission herbicide use increase. or grasses, reverse takes place. conversion degraded pasture grasses calculated lead sequestration up 50 ton C ha −1 , which might be potential mechanism mitigating greenhouse effect. Quantitative, exploratory studies point out often conflicting nature different show pathways sustainable development.