FEASIBILITY OF A SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEM WITH SHEEPS IN AN OLIVE ORCHARD (Olea europaea L.) UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION

Abstract

A study was carried out in order to assess the feasibility of the establishment of a silvopastoral system with sheep in an olive orchard under drip irrigation. The study was conducted in a naturalized grassland located in the interior dryland area, province of Ñuble, Chile, from November 20th, 2007 to March 15th, 2008. The results of this study indicate that production reached 1,505 kg DM ha-1 during the spring-summer season, with a higher production in the on-row, where the ferti-irrigation and shadow effect took place. Clay-sandy soils were more productive than sandy soils, and exhibited a better botanical composition. The consumption of sprouts and leaves by sheep was not harmful to plants, because plant height was higher than 1.0 m. Animal load was 1.3 AU ha-1 period-1. It is possible to obtain an increase in body condition and live weight of sheep, reaching the required weight for mating at eight months for ewes, and increasing the live weight and body condition of sheep. Therefore, it is possible to establish an olive-sheep silvopastoral under the specific conditions described in this study.