When accomplished without agronomic and environmental criteria, the disposal of the wastewaters in the soil-plant system can cause contamination problems in the soil, to both surface and subsurface waters as well as toxicity to the plants. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects from the fertigation with cattle wastewater (ARB) on the physiologic, nutritional and yield characteristics of the Tifton 85 grass (Cynodon spp.) and the black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb). The experiment was performed with four ARB application rates (25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1 of K) using drainage lysimeters under greenhouse conditions. The following physiologic, nutritional and yield variables were evaluated: photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatic conductance, leaf chlorophyll content, forage productivity, crude protein content (PB) and content of nutrients in the dry matter (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and Cu). According to the results, the following conclusions were drawn: the use of ARB caused no stress due to the osmotic effect neither direct toxicity by the chemical elements analysised, besides providing nutrient absorption and forage yield at levels close to the recommended ones. Therefore, this ARB can partially substitute the mineral fertilization in cropping these forages.
physiologic variables; mineral composition; Tifton 85 grass; black oat
