In an area adjacent to trials conducted by Braz et al. (2001) another area was fenced to evaluate the degradation of piles feces liberated by the cattle and the influence of nutrients liberated to the forage on the nutrients production and concentrations. Fifty piles feces were collected immediately after excretion by the animal and maintained in the field for periods of 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 days of incubation. It was observed a continuous and high variation in the potassium contents through feces, that ranged from .25 to .05% after 112 days, in this period, the pile nutrient liberation corresponded to 90% initial amount. ADF contents, in the first week, decreased 50% from the beginning, representing a later tendency for increase in the ADF fecal concentration, as previously observed. As for the concentrations of N and P, it was observed that liberation was restricted and correlated with the degradation of dry matter, probably as a function of low biological activity in the feces and of consequent liberation of these nutrients in the particulate form. Concerning the influence of liberated nutrients through the feces to the forage on the nutrient production and concentration, there was a high variation in K concentration and production only in the central region of evaluation after 112 days of incubation, i.e., in a radium of 25 cm from the pile center, there was no difference in the nutrients production and concentrations in the other evaluated regions.
sustainability; degradation of feces piles; nutrients incorporation
