Integrated Crop-Livestock System: A systems approach to Organic Production in Hawai'i

Eric Collier
Jan 9
2 min read

Introduction to Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems

The production of organic agricultural products must either maintain or improve the natural resources of an operation, including soil and water quality. Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practices must maintain the condition of the soil, which is accomplished through crop rotation, the use of cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials.

What is an Integrated Crop-Livestock System?

An Integrated Crop-Livestock System (ICLS) is a farming system that manages both crop and livestock production, where they support each other within the same acreage and create a symbiotic relationship. ICLS are efficient at recycling nutrients from livestock waste back to croplands, through fodder production, improving soil organic matter and fertility.

In Hawai’i, much of a farm’s costs are related to off-farm inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in 2017 Hawai’i imported an average of:

Nitrogen (N): 3,468 metric tons per year
Phosphorus (P2O5 as phosphate): 4,519 metric tons per year
Potassium (K2O as potash): 1,836 metric tons per year

What are the Core Benefits of Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems?

ICLS can replace fuel-based machinery with animals, saving producers on fuel costs. In orchard systems, the furrows and turnrows need to be adequately maintained. Instead of mowing the turnrows, a producer can incorporate sheep and goats as “living mowers” to keep weeds in check.

ICLS completes the soil nutrient cycle by tying plant and animal management together so that nutrients are effectively recycled—keeping them on the farm and reducing loss and reliance on off-farm fertilizer inputs. In many ICLS, crop residues can be utilized as feed for livestock, and in return, livestock return nutrients to the soil by way of manure and urine. The decomposition of both crop residues and manure releases nutrients back into the soil, feeding soil microbes and improving soil structure and fertility.

ICLS also improves soil microbial activity, which increases biomass and accounts for as much as 5% of the total organic material in the soil. By returning organic matter and nutrients from livestock manure and crop residues, these systems stimulate decomposition and nutrient mineralization, keeping nutrients available for plants.

Cardon Sequestration

Sequesters carbon by regularly incorporating crop residues, forage roots, and animal manure, increasing the amount of organic material returned to the soil and building up soil carbon.

Pest Management

Breaks pest cycles by enhancing biodiversity, utilizing crop and livestock rotations, and managing grazing to disrupt pest and pathogen lifecycles, which reduces opportunities for establishment and buildup of unwanted pest populations.

Multiple streams of income

ICLS can provide additional sources of income, allowing producers to sell both crops and livestock, as well as livestock-derived products, which increases gross income per acre compared to crop-only systems. ICLS also reduce feed costs, which is a bottleneck in livestock production in Hawai’i. Livestock use crop residues and cover crops as feed and forage. In addition, having multiple on-farm enterprises helps to insulate producers from market volatility. If crop prices fall, the sale of livestock can help stabilize farm income.

Improves Livestock Health

Improves livestock health by providing higher quality nutrition through increased diversity of forages and grazing options, which has been shown to increase weight and milk production.