This work aimed to evaluate the effect of two swine deep beddings (SDB): rice husk (CA) and sawdust coarse (MA) on the production of natural pasture. The predominant species in this pasture were Axonopus sp. and Paspalum sp. that was sod-seeded with the forage legumes birdsfoot trefoil and white clover. The SDBs were applied in amounts equivalent to 180, 360, 540, and 720 kg/ha of P2O5. In order to achieve the target P application, different levels of CA (30, 60, 90, and 120 t/ha) and MA (20.6; 41.2; 62.2; and 82.8 t/ha) were applied. Two control treatments were used: mineral fertilization (180 kg/ha of triple superphosphate, TSP) and no fertilization (AA). The legumes were sod-seeded in May/2004. After August/2004, the plants were cut every six weeks and nine cuts were performed. The highest annual (September/2004 to August/2005) dry matter (DM) production was obtained with 30 and 60 t/ha of CA or 62.2 and 82.8 t/ha of MA, with DM productivity ranging from 8,083 to 8,276 kg DM/ha. This productivity was greater than the one obtained with both TSP (4,091 kg DM/ha) and AA (3,071 kg DM/ha). The white-clover DM production increased linearly in the fall and in the winter seasons, as a function of MA and did not change with the CA rates. The results indicated that the CSS type (CA or MA) affects the fertilizing effect of these manures, influencing the production and the botanical composition of the pastures, specially the proportion of grasses and legumes.
Lotus corniculatus; manure; Trifolium repens
