Abstract
The proper disposal of pig manure is of great importance because, when mishandled, it can contaminate water resources. This study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen dynamics in a Cerrado Oxisol and its absorption, over time, by a maize crop managed with pig slurry associated with mineral fertilization (N P K). The study was conducted at a private farm, in the region of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The maize crop was able to recover 62% of the mineral nitrogen that entered the soil-plant system, while 9% leached as nitrate and, to a lesser amount, as ammonium. The maximum average content of nitrate and ammonium of 92 kg ha -1 and 43 kg ha -1 , respectively, was observed in the 0 to 0.3 m soil layer during the early crop development stage. A minimum content of 5.8 kg ha -1 of nitrate and 9.0 kg ha -1 of ammonium, respectively, was measured at the end of the cycle. In addition, the nitrate content at that soil layer, at the end of the maize cycle, remained below the values measured at the native Cerrado, indicating that the agricultural use of the land poses no additional risk to the nitrate accumulation and leaching into the soil profile.
Highlights
Brazilian swine production has risen sharply in recent decades, as a result of effective use of technologies associated with animal breeding, balanced feeding, and management in various forms of animal confinement
As input to the system, we considered the sum of the mineral nitrogen present in pig slurry, the mineral fertilizer applied at sowing, side-dressings performed, the nitrogen present in the existing soil surface mulching before planting, and the existing soil mineral nitrogen
We considered the nitrogen accumulated in the crop aboveground biomass, the mineral nitrogen presented in the 0 to 0.60 m soil layer at the end of the crop cycle, and the nitrogen leached below the rooting system, which was regarded as the mineral nitrogen presented in the 0.60 to 1.20 m soil layer
Summary
Brazilian swine production has risen sharply in recent decades, as a result of effective use of technologies associated with animal breeding, balanced feeding, and management in various forms of animal confinement. Productivity has increased, resulting in large concentrations of animals per unit area, along with large accumulations of organic wastes. These are of great importance from a technical and environmental point of view since, when mishandled, animal manure can cause water resource contamination (Seidel et al, 2010). The fertilizer potential of pig slurry is often attributed to its different concentrations and amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen (Ceretta, 2003; Giacomini and Aita, 2008; Giacomini et al, 2009) This makes it a promising fertilization alternative for crops, such as maize, that demand large amounts of nitrogen. When there has been no previous chemical analysis of the manure, Konsen (2003) recommends using 40 to 90 m3ha-1 for conventionally managed maize, and 50 to 100 m3ha-1 for the no-tillage maize grown in Cerrado soils
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