ABSTRACT - In the Brazilian Cerrado, it is estimated that 85 millions ha exist with pastures with 50 millions ha under cultivated pastures, especially with African grasses of the genus Brachiaria. More than 50% of this pastures are degraded or under degradational process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of physical treatments (offset disk harrow and harrowing), N and P amendments in the recovery of a degraded pasture of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. This experiment was run in a degraded pasture of the Animal Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras, southern area of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experiment was set from December/98 through April/00. A randomized block design was used in split plot scheme, allocating physical treatments into the main plots and the treatments with N and P into the subplots. The fertilization based on the results of the soil analysis consisted in the application of 100 kg/ha of N, 100 kg/ha of P2O5, and the combination of these two doses. Soil addition of N and P increased the levels of crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber as response to higher P in the plant. The physical treatments affected negatively crude protein content. However, the application of N reduced these negative effects, but increased the neutral detergent fiber levels.
Brachiaria decumbens; degraded pasture; dry matter production; recovery
