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Large amounts of poultry agroindustry residues are produced in areas near the breeding grounds, and often these residues are used as a source of fertilization in pastures, which may affect the chemical and physical attributes of the soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous application over time (up to eight years) of turkey manure on the chemical and physical attributes of an Oxisol under rotational grazing. The experimental area was divided into 16 plots of 0.5 ha each, and cultivated with Uroclhoa decumbens in rotational grazing system. Treatments were given by accumulated doses of turkey manure, with annual applications from 2008 to 2015, as follows: control, 35.29; 51.79 and 66.24 Mg ha-1. Continued use of turkey manure for at least 5 years (35.29 Mg ha-1) promoted increases in phosphorus, potassium and base saturation, as well as reducing acidity and aluminum saturation. Changes in soil organic matter, however, were found only after 8 years (66.24 Mg ha-1) of continuous use of turkey manure. There was little effect of turkey manure use on Ca:Mg ratio and also on soil physical attributes, except for macroporosity in the superficial layer, which was higher in intermediate doses of turkey manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the density and richness of soil macrofauna, in an area with two to three years of pasture establishment. Three treatments were applied to the pasture, which had been managed under rotational grazing and organic system. The three treatments were organic system, organic system plus biodynamic prepared and organic system plus decay activator. Soil monoliths (0.25m x 0.25 m) were collected in four seasons (December 2008, March 2009, June 2009 and September 2009) for assessment of macrofauna edaphic. High yield was obtained for pasture comparing with native pasture as result of good soil fertility. Neither the yield nor quality parameters of pasture were affected by treatments. The highest macrofauna densities were found in the 2009 winter sampling, with an average of 3.904 organisms per square meter, followed by summer sampling with 3.075 organisms per square meter. The number of macrofauna groups identified ranged from 12 to 18 according treatments and sampling period. A diversity of functional groups was found, with a large density of ants, termites, Coleoptera, earthworms and enchytraeids. The total density of soil macrofauna was not affected by used treatments, with little variation within the different periods studied. Biodinamic prepared and decay activator did not show influence over yield and pasture quality as well as over edafic fauna, under study condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to evaluate of tree pasture-based systems (PS) with elephantgrass (EG) Pennisetum purpureum Schum., cv. 'Merckeron Pinda' + spontaneous growing species (SGS), annual ryegrass (RG) Lolium multiflorum Lam., cv. 'Comum', for PS1; EG + SGS + forage peanut (FP) Arachis pintoi Krap. e Greg., cv. 'Amarillo', for PS2; and EG + SGS + RG + red clover (RC) Trifolium pratense L., cv. 'Estanzoela 116', for PS3. EG was planted in lines with a distance of 4m each one of them. Ryegrass was sowed between rows of EG during the cool-season; red clover was sowed and the forage peanut was preserved on respectively treatments. Holstein cows receiving 5.5kg daily-1 complementary concentrate feed were used. The dry matter daily accumulation rate (DMA),disappearance of forage mass (DFM),dry matter disappeared based on 100kg of live weight (DMD),total dry matter production (TDM), botanical composition and structural component of EG were evaluated. The experimental design used was completely randomized with tree treatments (SF) and two replicates (paddocks) in incomplete split-plot time (grazing cycles). Nine grazing cycle were performed during the experimental period (341 days). The average values of DMA, DFM, DMD and TDM were 53.16kg ha-1, 36.13%, 2.77kg of dry matter per100kg of liveweight and 17.80t ha-1, respectively. SGS parameter increased significantly over in the PS1. Considering the stocking rate the PS3 showed a better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf tissue flow in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was quantified in three grazing intensities. The intensities corresponded to the disappearance of 21.1 ('Low'), 43.3 ('Mean') and 61.0% ('High') of the initial forage mass on each grazing cycle. The experimental animals were ewe lambs and the thermal sum of 313 degree-days determined the interval among grazing. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and four replicates. In intensity 'Low' the highest growth and senescence flows were registered, respectively, 85.6 and 54.6kg ha day-1 of DM. In 'Mean' and 'High' intensities the growth and intake flows were higher in the beginning of pasture utilization and the senescence flow increased with the development of the Italian ryegrass cycle. It is recommended the use of the 43.3% grazing intensity which allowed greater values of intake flow, with mean growth and senescence flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]