ABSTRACT The application of organic composts derived from animal husbandry or agro-industry is a promising option to improve nutrient cycling and supply of soils and, consequently, forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil chemical properties and the nutritional state of elephant grass in response to rates of organic fertilizer composted from the waste of small ruminant production and slaughter systems. The experiment was conducted on a Fluvisol of a forage field with elephant grass var. Cameroon, and was arranged in a randomized block design with split-plots with repeated measures over time. Six rates of organic compost (0, 13.3, 26.6, 39.9, 52.3, and 79.8 t ha-1, in plots) and an additional treatment with mineral fertilizers were evaluated in four growth periods (60, 120, 180, and 240 days, in subplots) with four replications, resulting in a total of 28 plots. Soil fertility was evaluated after the fourth growth period, while leaf analysis was determined in every 60-day period. The increasing rates of organic compost increased the concentrations of OM, NH4+, NO3–, NH4+ + NO3–, P and base saturation, while the H+Al values decreased and the N and P contents increased in the plants. Compared with mineral fertilization, soil inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus increased by 34 and 97 % in response to the application of organic compost. In response to the application of organic compost, the leaf contents of all studied nutrients remained adequate in all studied periods, except for the macronutrient N and micronutrient Mn.

RESUMO O uso da serapilheira de espécies da Caatinga, na recuperação de solos degradados, é uma alternativa interessante, por contribuir para o retorno de nutrientes para o solo e favorecer a ciclagem de elementos e a melhoria da fertilidade. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, mensurar os efeitos da aplicação de doses da fração folhas, da serapilheira de oito espécies da Caatinga, sobre a fertilidade de um solo degradado e a produção de sorgo. Adotou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições, com doses de serapilheira, equivalentes a 0, 15, 30, 60 e 120 kg ha-1 de N, por espécie. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, utilizando-se um Planossolo Nátrico Órtico coletado em área degradada do município de Irauçuba, CE. Coletaram-se folhas, sem sinal de decomposição, de Combretum leprosum Mart., Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir., Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ExTul.) L.P. Queiroz, Poncianella piramydalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz, Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart, Cordia oncocalyx Allemão e Croton sonderianus Muell. Arg. Aos 75 dias após a germinação, realizou-se o corte das plantas, sua secagem e a quantificação da matéria seca e a análise de N-total e do acúmulo de N. A amostragem do solo foi feita após o corte do sorgo. O incremento das doses dos resíduos de mofumbo, jucá, catingueira, pereiro e pau-branco elevou as concentrações de P, K, Ca e Mg, o resíduo de marmeleiro acidificou o solo. Jurema e pau-branco elevaram a produção de biomassa do sorgo e o acúmulo de N.

ABSTRACT The use of litterfall of Caatinga species in the recovery of degraded soils is an interesting alternative to contribute to the return of nutrients to the soil, favoring the cycling of elements and the improvement of fertility. The aim was to measure the effects of the application of leaf litter fraction of eight Caatinga species on the fertility of a degraded soil and the production of sorghum, which was the plant tested. A completely randomized block design with five treatments and five replications was used, with litterfall doses equivalent to 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 of N for each species. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a Planosol collected in a degraded area in Irauçuba - CE, Brazil. We collected leaves of Combretum leprosum Mart., Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir., Libidibia férrea (Mart. ExTul.) L.P. Queiroz, Poncianella piramydalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz, Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart, Cordia oncocalyx Allemão, and Croton sonderianus Muell. Arg., with no sign of decomposition. At 75 days following germination, the plants were cut and dried in an oven for the quantification of the dry mass and total N and N accumulation analysis. Soil sampling was performed after sorghum cutting. The increment of doses from residues of mofumbo, jucá, catingueira, pereiro, and pau-branco increased the concentrations of P, K, Ca, and Mg, thus increasing the soil CEC; the marmeleiro residue acidified the soil. Grain sorghum that received litterfall from jurema and pau-branco had greater biomass and N accumulation.