Use of zeolite and cattle manure for soil improvement and increase of livestock yield

Due to the compacting of cow manure in the dairy farms, it is rarely used in the pasture and forage areas, resulting in low agricultural yields and low milk production. This work was developed during five years in five dairy farms of the "El Tablon" Livestock Enterprise, Cienfuegos, through the manufacture and application to the soil of natural organo-mineral fertilizer (Zeofert) with the objective of increasing the yield of pasture and forage. For the preparation of Zeofert, fresh cow dung deposited by the animals on the floor of the shaded sheds was used and mixed with 1-3 mm particles of natural zeolitic rock (Fertisol). The obtained decompacted manure (2,362 t) was applied manually on 94.5 ha of pasture and forage at a rate of 25 t ha(-1). The results showed that the application of Zeofert to the soil significantly increased the yield of Panicum maximum Jacq. cultivar 'Common' (natural grass) and P. maximum cultivar 'Likoni' ( guinea grass) by 52 % and of Pennisetum purpureum Schum. (king grass) cultivar 'CT-115' by 77 %, while milk production was increased by 20 %, all with respect to the control. The return of nutrients to the soil was restored, with a significant increase in the contents of P2O5, K2O, organic matter and pH values. The use of 99, 124 and 116 t of NH4NO3, simple supersulfate and KCl were substituted as equivalent chemical fertilizers, respectively. The use of this technology is recommended in those units that have cattle in stabled or semistabled conditions.