The effects of industrial waste from enzyme production on pasture growth and soil chemical properties

André  Faé Giostri; Luis Fernando  Montrucchio Bond; Antônio Carlos  Vargas Motta; Ida  Chapaval Pimentel; Paulo César  de Faccio Carvalho; Jair  Alves Dionísio

The effects of industrial waste from enzyme production on pasture growth and soil chemical properties

Autores

André Faé Giostri

Luis Fernando Montrucchio Bond

Antônio Carlos Vargas Motta

Ida Chapaval Pimentel

Paulo César de Faccio Carvalho

Jair Alves Dionísio

Editor

Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Descripción

Farmers have used liquid waste from the enzyme industry as fertilizer. To determine the impact of liquid waste from enzymes (LWEs) on soil properties, plant growth and nutrient content in pasture, an experiment was conducted with fi ve different rates of LWE appl ication (0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 m 3 ha -1 ) to a Cambisol in August 2006. In August 2007, 60 m 3 ha -1 of LWE was applied in every treatment. Soil was sampled on four different dates and at four different depths (0 -10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) to verify changes in its chemical properties. Soil was improved in terms of acidity and availability of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + and P in the 0-10 cm layer, indicating that the effect of LWE is corrective concerning these attributes. There was also improvement in pasture quality through increased levels of N, P and K in plants during the first year of waste application. The use of larger doses of LWE led to increases in productivity (42.6 kg dry weight m -3 residues). These results indicate that the application of LWE is feasible for the fertilization of this grassland containing low-fertility acidic Cambisol.