Abstract

The increase in broiler production in Brazil has increased the production of poultry litter. Thus, the management and adequate disposal of this waste is recommended. Agricultural use is a promising solution. This study evaluated the productivity of corn for silage with different fertilizations of poultry litter. The production of Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Mineral Matter (MM) and Organic Matter (OM), and microbial activity of the soil such as Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC), Metabolic Quotient (qCO₂) and Microbial Quotient (qMIC), were evaluated. There were treatments composed of a control that received mineral fertilization (33 Kg N, 80 Kg P₂O₅ and 80 Kg K₂O) and treatments with poultry litter Rice Straw (RS) and Wood Shavings (WSH) (doses of 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10.0 Mg ha^-1). The treatments with poultry litter received, at sowing, 1/3 of the mineral fertilization. The evaluation of the production of corn for silage was carried out in the R4-R5 phase, and soils collected in the 0 to 10 cm layer in the post-poultry litter (A) and post-herbicide (B) periods. The microbial communities were influenced by anthropic activity in every treatment, with fall in MBC and the significant increase in the qCO₂ in the control and the qMIC in the treatments that received poultry litter, demonstrating greater efficiency in mineralization of nutrients. As regards DM productivity, there was no difference in the treatments; however, treatments 7.5 RS and 10 WSH presented higher levels of protein and ether extract similar to the control treatment. This study concluded that the treatments with poultry litter favored the use of soil OM, which had less impact on microbial activity, and proposed that the substitution of 2/3 of the fertilization would not cause losses or decrease in the production or characteristics of the corn silage.

Key words: Zea mays, organic fertilization, organic matter and poultry waste.