Spatial distribution of feces and estimates of nitrogen return by dairy cows on mombasa grass pastures

• Published in: Revista brasileira de zootecnia Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 369 - 380
• Main Authors: Silva, Rodrigo Gregório da, Neiva, José Neuman Miranda, Santos, Antonio Clementino dos, Cândido, Magno José Duarte, Sousa, Antonio Luiz Dias, Lopes, Marcos Neves, Silva, Rafael de Oliveira da, Carneiro, Leovegildo Caldas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia 01.05.2013
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE; geostatistics; nitrogen fertilization; nutrient cycling; pasture; supplementation; VETERINARY SCIENCES; geostatistics; supplementation; nitrogen fertilization; pasture; nutrient cycling
• ISSN: 1516-3598; 1806-9290; 1516-3598; 1806-9290
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982013000500010

The objective of this study was to identify the pattern of deposition of feces by supplemented crossbred dairy cows after the lactation peak on cultivated areas under levels of intensification of the system and its effects on nitrogen cycling, with the aid of geostatistics, in the rainy period. Treatments were composed of two levels of nitrogen fertilization (equivalent to 400 and 800 kg N/ha/year) and two types of animals, according to the daily milk production. Geostatistical and descriptive analyses of the data were conducted. The data presented positive coefficients of skewness and platykurtic kurtosis. For the coefficient of variation, there was elevated alteration, with rest areas showing higher values and paddocks with a higher level of fertilization showing lower values.The climate factors radiation, temperature and relative humidity significantly influenced the dispersion and location of feces. As to the degree of spatial dependence, the classification varied from moderated to strong. The range was from 14.0 to 12.7 m for the rest areas and paddocks, respectively. Fertilization and concentrate supply affected the deposition and loss of nitrogen via feces, elevating its values as the nutritional uptake is elevated. Fecal deposition showed heterogeneity, with areas of greater concentration such as shades, entrance of the paddocks and threshing floor, showing deposition peaks that reach 1,051.2 kg N/ha/year.