Reduction of Greenhouse Emissions through Integration Between Brachiaria and Leguminous in Brazilian Beef Cattle Production.

Brazil adopted biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as strategy of reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aimed to compare two system of beef cattle production in Brachiaria grassland: conventional and integrated with BNF leguminous. We calculated the carbon footprint of both system based in characteristics animal average of Brazil and the GHG emissions using Intergovernmental Panel of Climatic Change (IPCC). The carbon footprint decreased of 40.7 to 37.7 kg CO₂eq kg^-1 carcass that means a reduction of 8%. When we analyzed each gas N₂O contributed with 40% of carbon footprint reductions, enteric CH₄ with 20% and the rest due other aspects that had resulted in more meat production. The total N₂O emissions decrease due substitution of nitrogen fertilizer by BNF. Already CH₄ because BNF forages is rich in protein can contribute in better grassland use by animal. However there are no difference between both system considering emissions per area 1998.8 and 2023.1 kg CO₂eq ha^-1.  One of contribution of BNF adoption is use less land for the same meat production. This remnant area could be used for reforestation or with other crop. The adoption of this technology could result in a considerable reduction of GHG emissions especially in Brazil that has 200 Mha and can use part of this area for carbon sequestration through reforestation.