Animal Manure as a Nitrogen Source to Grass

Abstract

The use of animal manure has been studied increasingly in recent years due to the excess waste in confinements, which generates great amounts of animal excreta; and as a result of the worsening petroleum crisis, the cost of mineral fertilizing products has increased. Thus, studies point out the potential of this waste to improve biotic and abiotic soil condition and nutritional value of forage. Substances ingested by animals that resist the action of gastric enzymes are enriched with large amounts of bacteria, other microorganisms and other substances to form residual feces, the main component of manure, which, together with the wash water from barnyard urine, form the slurry. The volume of living or dead bacteria in the feces represents 20% of total manure and it is from these that a large amount of nitrogen originates as protein. Due to this potentiality, animal manure can be used as an input in agriculture, impacting positively on production and forage productivity , and having a favorable effect on the environment.