ABSTRACT
The use of organic wastes from housing systems in a compost bedded pack barn model could supply much of the fertiliser demand in the farm. Moreover, with the increase in food consumption from sustainable livestock, the use of compost generated in the farm itself becomes economically viable. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic manure from bedded cattle confinement applied at different moments on maize crop. The experiment was carried out in a randomized blocks with five treatments and five repetitions. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by Scott-Knott test at p ≤ 0.05. The treatments with addition of fresh compost and mature compost with nitrogen cover had higher production of maize shoot dry matter when compared to treatments without compost. For all variables analysed, the treatments with compost were superior to the other ones. The soil used for growing silage maize has improved considerably its chemical characteristics when the compost was applied. The use of bedding material compost from sheds as organic manure is recommended as a sustainable alternative in the reuse and treatment of waste from cattle confinement farm.
Key words:
Zea mays L.; dairy cattle; sustainable livestock; Compost Barn