Could cattle ranching and soybean cultivation be sustainable? A systematic review and a meta-analysis for the Amazon

Tropical forests are being destroyed to make space for agricultural activities with the assumption that they required feed growing global population. Consequently, more sustainable practices needed guarantee food security and environmental protection of highly threatened natural biodiversity hotspots like Amazon rainforest. Cattle ranching soybean cultivation by far greater drivers land use change deforestation in region. We performed a systematic review papers related these two main meta-analysis on effects different ecosystem services. The results highlight large concern about negative impacts cattle crops dynamics functionality biome, addition clear relationship deforestation. Another relevant finding is gap empirical research concerning Such evident since only 13 studies from initial database met requirements meta-analysis. Of 171 comparisons between services provided conventional land-uses those adopting practices, overall model indicated non-significant effect, although were heterogeneous. Crop yield herbage biomass negatively affected, while livestock productivity, soil organic carbon, fertility woody positively affected. Also, six evaluated showed outcomes, predominance positive silvopastoral systems, agrosilvicultural systems. Our indicate can indeed be conducted way, enhancing provision avoiding In turn, our also lack data need standardize methodologies used deeply assess such practices. conclusion, we suggest way advance into real aimed at reducing Amazon.