Production, nutritional status and chemical properties of soils with addition of cattle manure, reactive natural phosphate and biotite schist in Massai cultivar

Adônis Moreira,Alfredo Ribeiro de Freitas,Gilberto Batista de Souza,Nand Kumar Fageria

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982010000900004

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of cattle manure, reactive natural phosphate and biotite schist on the soil fertility, yield and nutritional status of Megathyrsus spp. cv. Massai. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, in a dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol (Oxisol). It was used a randomized block experimental design with the following treatments: three natural reactive rock phosphate from Algeria (Djebel-Onk) doses (0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5), three biotite schist doses (0, 150 and 300 kg ha-1 of K2O) and three cattle manure doses (0, 20 and 40 t ha-1). The application of natural phosphate increased dry matter yield, however, application of cattle manure and biotite schist did not influence this variable. Foliar levels of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium (cattle manure), phosphorous and boron (natural rock phosphate) and potassium (biotite schist) were influenced by the applied fertilizer doses. Only the levels of phosphorous in the soil and in the plant and levels of magnesium and boron in the plant show interaction with dry matter yield of Massai cultivar.

Highlights

In intensive cattle dairy system, pasture field grazing capacity could be improved by application of fertilizers, including limestone, sodium, phosphorous and potassium and micronutrients. Werner et al (1996) recommend the use of 40, 100 and 60 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O in new pasture fields set in soils with low fertility, while for its maintenance, 80, 50 and 50 kg ha-1 would be necessary, respectively.Application of cattle manure and/or reactive natural rock phosphates revealed productivity increases in pasture fields (Scherer et al, 1984; Sanzonowiscz & Goedert, 1986; Moreira & Malavolta, 2001)
The treatments consisted of three doses (0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5) of reactive natural rock phosphate (RNRP) from Algeria (Djebel-Onk), with 29% P2O5 (9% being soluble in citric acid) and 12% of Ca, three doses (0, 150 and 300 kg ha-1 of K2O) of biotite schist (2.0 mm crushed): pHH2O = 8.5, K2O = 4.3%, CaO = 2.8%, MgO = 15.1%, P2O5 = 0.01%, PN = 0% and SiO2 = 54.6%, and three doses (0, 20 and 40 t ha-1) of cattle manure: N = 5.0 g kg-1, P = 2.6 g kg-1, K = 6.0 g kg-1, S = 1.0 g kg-1 and Ca = 2.0 g kg-1 (Berton, 1997)
A significant effect of natural rock phosphate application was observed on dry matter yield of Massai cultivar, while the use of up to 40 t ha-1 of cattle manure and 300 kg ha-1 of K2O in the form of biotite schist and their interactions had no effect (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

In intensive cattle dairy system, pasture field grazing capacity could be improved by application of fertilizers, including limestone, sodium, phosphorous and potassium and micronutrients. Werner et al (1996) recommend the use of 40, 100 and 60 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O in new pasture fields set in soils with low fertility, while for its maintenance, 80, 50 and 50 kg ha-1 would be necessary, respectively.Application of cattle manure and/or reactive natural rock phosphates revealed productivity increases in pasture fields (Scherer et al, 1984; Sanzonowiscz & Goedert, 1986; Moreira & Malavolta, 2001). In intensive cattle dairy system, pasture field grazing capacity could be improved by application of fertilizers, including limestone, sodium, phosphorous and potassium and micronutrients. Werner et al (1996) recommend the use of 40, 100 and 60 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O in new pasture fields set in soils with low fertility, while for its maintenance, 80, 50 and 50 kg ha-1 would be necessary, respectively. Application of cattle manure and/or reactive natural rock phosphates revealed productivity increases in pasture fields (Scherer et al, 1984; Sanzonowiscz & Goedert, 1986; Moreira & Malavolta, 2001). Most of the Brazilian dairy pasture fields are planted with Urochloa spp. and Megathyrsus spp. In the case of Megathyrsus spp., the Massai cultivar, a natural hybrid of M. maximum and M. infestam, appears to be a promising alternative forage for tropical edaphoclimatic conditions, because of its low seasonal variation, good crude protein content and good growth even in soils with low natural fertility (Valentim et al, 2001)

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