Effect of different nitrogen fertilizers on nitrogen efficiency use in Nellore bulls grazing on Marandu palisade grass

Author(s)

Boas Fonseca, Natalia Vilas ; Cardoso, Abmael da Silva ; Berca, Andressa Scholz ; Dornellas, Isadora Alves ; Ongaratto, Fernando ; Curvelo Silva, Maria Luisa ; Ruggieri, Ana Claudia ; Reis, Ricardo Andrade

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: LIVESTOCK SCIENCE; v. 263, p. 6-pg., 2022-07-14.

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of different sources of nitrogen (N) applied to pastures of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu during the rainy season on the efficiency of N use in plants and animals. Continuous grazing with variable stocking rates was employed to maintain 25 cm pasture height, corresponding to 95% light interception. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four treatments and three replications (paddocks per treatment). The applied N sources were urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate, at a respective dosage of 150 kg N per ha, in three treatments, in addition to a control treatment without N fertilization. N recovery by plants differed between fertilizers (p = 0.047) and was highest in the ammonium sulfate treatment. The proportion of retained N was higher in animals kept on fertilized pastures (p < 0.01). Different sources of N in pasture system, or its non-use, affected the efficiency of N use by animals, and ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate were more efficient with respect to the N balance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/25997-4 - Effect of energy supplementation time and sources to optimize F1 Angus-Nellore growing
• Grantee: Andressa Scholz Berça
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/11274-5 - Decomposition of litter and greenhouse gases emission in Brachiaria grasses with increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates
• Grantee: Abmael da Silva Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/16631-5 - Management strategies to reduce environmental impacts of beef cattle production systems
• Grantee: Ricardo Andrade Reis
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants