03545naa a2200265 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400520006010000210011224501020013326000090023552027370024465000170298165000160299865000150301465000280302965000290305765000140308665300310310065300260313170000260315770000190318370000180320277300590322021325452021-06-24       2021    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 ahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.1032042DOI1 aPONTES, L. da S.  aLong-term profitability of crop-livestock systems, with and without trees.h[electronic resource]  c2021  aCONTEXT Integrated crop-livestock systems have been encouraged worldwide as they align with the principles of cleaner production. However, studies on these systems have mainly explored agronomic and environmental indicators; thus, fewer studies have been conducted considering an economic perspective, particularly when trees are introduced. OBJECTIVE This study sought to compare the economic profitability of two integrated systems, crop-livestock only (CL) and crop-livestock-trees (CLT), crossed with two nitrogen fertilization levels (90 and 180 kg N ha−1, N90 and N180, respectively). METHODS Our analysis (gross revenue, costs and profit) relies on experimental data obtained over 10 years. In 2006, eucalyptus, pink pepper, and silver oak were planted in six of the 12 experimental units at 3 × 14 m spacing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS In the first years (2007?2009), black oat was used as a cover crop during the winter, preceding summer cash crops (rice, soybean, and maize), to recover a degraded pasture and because most of the trees had not attained enough size to support animal impact. This period was marked by economic losses because only summer crops provided revenue. From 2010, when cattle grazing on cool-season pastures was integrated, preceding maize or soybean crops, the systems began to generate profit, and profit stability was observed in crop-livestock systems thereafter. Fertilizers accounted for the largest production cost (41% of total costs), and an increase in N level slightly increased the profit (+6%) in crop-livestock systems. The CLT N90 was as profitable as the crop-livestock treatments, despite high annual economic fluctuations with mature trees (i.e., + and - profit). However, the sale of wood from eucalyptus and silver oak contributed to cover these losses. Considering the complete production cycle of 10 years, the net accumulated profit was positive for all treatments, with values of US$ 1486, 2039, 2109 and 2238 ha−1 for CLT N180, CLT N90, CL N90, and CL N180, respectively. We conclude that crop-livestock performs better than crop-livestock-trees in terms of profit stability. An increase in the N level did not guarantee a significant increase in income revenue. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings indicate that CL provide profit stability, even in unfavored areas, thereby contributing to sustainable development goals globally. However, despite the importance of income from wood for farmers, mature trees impair the attainment of a stable profit over the years in CLT systems. Therefore, innovative agronomic practices combined with agricultural policies are needed to encourage the adoption of CLT systems and to adequately take advantage of their ecological benefits.  aAgroforestry  aBeef cattle  aEucalyptus  aSustainable agriculture  aAgricultura Sustentável  aEucalipto  aRecovery degraded pastures  aSistema agroflorestal1 aPORFIRIO-DA-SILVA, V.1 aMOLETTA, J. L.1 aTELLES, T. S.  tAgricultural Systemsgv. 192, 103204, Aug. 2021. 13 p.