Nitrogen fertilization on palisadegrass: phytomass decomposition and nutrients release

Claudio Hideo   Martins da Costa; Carlos Alexandre   Costa Crusciol; Rogério  Peres Soratto; Jayme   Ferrari Neto; Edemar   Moro

Nitrogen fertilization on palisadegrass: phytomass decomposition and nutrients release

Autores

Claudio Hideo Martins da Costa

Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol

Rogério Peres Soratto

Jayme Ferrari Neto

Edemar Moro

Editor

Universidade Federal de Goiás

Descripción

Topdressing or pre-seeding nitrogen (N) application increases phytomass production, providing a higher nutrients accumulation and indirectly favoring the subsequent crop. However, N fertilization can alter the dry matter decomposition and nutrients release dynamics. This study aimed at evaluating the decomposition rate, cellulose, lignin and nutrients release speed from palisadegrass as a function of N fertilization. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications, in a factorial scheme constituted by two N fertilization levels and six sampling times after desiccation [0, 14, 34, 41, 51 and 68 days after management (DAM)]. The topdressing N fertilization on palisadegrass increases the dry matter production and N accumulation, but does not alter the decomposition and release speed. N fertilization reduces the C/N ratio, but it does not change the contents of cellulose and lignin and the decomposition and release of N, K, Ca, Mg, C and Si. The amounts of P and S accumulated in the plant and released into the soil increase with N fertilization. The maximum release rates occur within 0-14 DAM, being more intensive for P and S when N is applied. These results demonstrate the high potential of this species for crop- livestock integration systems, with some advantages that can be potentialized with higher N doses.