Rehabilitation with forage grasses of an area degraded by urban solid waste deposits

• Published in: Revista brasileira de zootecnia 2012-01, Vol.41 (1), p.18-23
• Main Authors: Miranda, Vanessa Soares, Ribeiro, Karina Guimarães, Silva, Alexandre Christófaro, Pereira, Rosana Cristina, Pereira, Odilon Gomes, Torrado, Pablo Vidal, Fernandes, José Sebastião Cunha, Oliveira, Maxwel Coura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE; Brachiaria spp; dry matter yield; heavy metals; mineral extraction; Tanzania grass; VETERINARY SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1516-3598; 1806-9290; 1516-3598; 1806-9290
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982012000100003

Dry matter yield and chemical composition of forage grasses harvested from an area degraded by urban solid waste deposits were evaluated. A split-plot scheme in a randomized block design with four replicates was used, with five grasses in the plots and three harvests in the subplots. The mineral content and extraction and heavy metal concentration were evaluated in the second cut, using a randomized block design with five grasses and four replicates. The grasses were Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and cv. Xaraés, and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, cut at 42 days of regrowth. The dry matter yield per cut reached 1,480 kg ha-1; the minimum crude protein content was 9.5% and the average neutral detergent fiber content was 62.3%. The dry matter yield of grasses was satisfactory, and may be an alternative for rehabilitating areas degraded by solid waste deposits. The concentration of heavy metals in the plants was below toxicity levels; the chemical composition was appropriate, except for phosphorus. The rehabilitated areas may therefore be used for grazing.