Effect of Organic Fertilization on the Production and Nutritional Quality of Brachiaria Decumbens in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

Introduction: Soil fertility is key to agricultural productivity. The Ecuadorian Amazon, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, is home to tropical ecosystems of great ecological importance. Agricultural activity, centred mainly on livestock, has grown in recent decades due to the high demand for meat and derived products.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of different levels of biofertilizer biol based on previous research and its effect on the growth and nutritional quality of the grass species Brachiaria decumbens.

Methods: The experiment was conducted at the Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica (CEIPA). Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), using a randomized block design with three treatments (T1, T2, T3) and a control without fertilizer. The different doses of biol were applied every 15 days and biomass sampling was carried out at 15, 30 and 45 days. The parameters evaluated included morphological variables such as plant height, number of stems and leaves, stem diameter and leaf dimensions, as well as bromatological analyses measuring crude protein, fat, fiber, ash and dry matter.

Results: The results showed that the biol dose (T3) was the most effective in promoting plant growth, with an average height of 78.77 cm, with 82 stems per plant, five leaves per stem, and a leaf size of 33 cm. In addition, T3 presented significantly higher levels of protein (12.27 %), fat (5.19 %), fiber (28.20 %), ash (7.87 %) and dry matter (33.19 %).

Conclusions: These results indicate that the use of biol not only increases pasture productivity, but also improves its nutritive value, contributing to a more balanced diet for cattle in regions with poor and eroded soil.