Publication Date

1997

Description

A 3-year grazing trial was conducted, to study animal production on degraded grass pastures, renovated by two levels of fertilization. All paddocks were divided into halves: one received 1.5 t/ha of dolomitic limestone, 400 kg/ha of a fertilizer formula 0-16-18 and 50 kg/ha of microelements (FL1); and the other 3.0 t/ha , 800 kg/ha and 50 kg/ ha of the same fertilizers (FL2). Productivity on FL2 pastures was greater than that on FL1 pastures, averaging 565 and 395 kg of liveweight gain (LWG)/ha/year, respectively. For all grasses the productivity in both fertilizer treatments decreased linearly from the first to the third, from means of 670 and 435 to means of 445 and 325 kg/ha/year, for FL2 and FL1, respectively. Progressive reduction in forage availabilities led to significant reduction of stocking rates over time and consequent productivity. Obviously, balanced nutrition with Ca, P, K, but mainly N, is required to sustain productivity of grass pastures.

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Beef Cattle Production on Renovated Grass Pastures in Savannas of Brazil

A 3-year grazing trial was conducted, to study animal production on degraded grass pastures, renovated by two levels of fertilization. All paddocks were divided into halves: one received 1.5 t/ha of dolomitic limestone, 400 kg/ha of a fertilizer formula 0-16-18 and 50 kg/ha of microelements (FL1); and the other 3.0 t/ha , 800 kg/ha and 50 kg/ ha of the same fertilizers (FL2). Productivity on FL2 pastures was greater than that on FL1 pastures, averaging 565 and 395 kg of liveweight gain (LWG)/ha/year, respectively. For all grasses the productivity in both fertilizer treatments decreased linearly from the first to the third, from means of 670 and 435 to means of 445 and 325 kg/ha/year, for FL2 and FL1, respectively. Progressive reduction in forage availabilities led to significant reduction of stocking rates over time and consequent productivity. Obviously, balanced nutrition with Ca, P, K, but mainly N, is required to sustain productivity of grass pastures.