**3.4 Integrated management of pasture fertilisation**

Fertiliser applications to pastures without prior measurement of soil nutrient levels can affect soil health, the quality of food produced, and environmental sustainability. In the department of Antioquia, fertilisers are used in 50% of the Agricultural *Sustainability of Soil Chemical Properties and Nutrient Relationships in Dairy and Beef Cattle… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104647*

**Figure 7.** *Relationship amongst the levels of organic matter, total nitrogen, calcium, and aluminium.*

Production Units [31]. Of the 185,000 tonnes of fertilisers consumed annually in Antioquia, 43% are compound fertilisers, 31% are simple fertilisers, and 25% are fertiliser mixtures [32]. Cattle systems use less fertiliser than reported for agricultural crops.

This study highlights the need to consider the fertility of soils and fertility programmes when we are looking for options to improve the efficient use of resources on smallholder farms. According to the results found, pasture fertilisation programmes in the analysed dairy and beef cattle subregions should be based on the application of calcium and magnesium amendments, the application of some macronutrients, and, in some areas, the application of some micronutrients, such as boron, is recommended. The low cation exchange capacity (CEC) in most subregions, except for the Urabá subregions, also highlights the importance of improving the levels of available bases, such as calcium, magnesium, and in some cases potassium, key elements for pasture nutrition.

We recommend the specific amendment and fertiliser programmes for each zone according to the soil analysis. It is important to make recommendations according to the botanical composition of the pastures, their biomass production, the type of grazing system, and the agronomic management implemented in each production system. To contribute to environmental sustainability, do not over-apply fertilisers, this will, therefore, conserve soil biota, contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, avoid contamination of water sources, and limit the loss of nutrients through leaching, contribute to animal health, amongst other beneficial effects. The measured application of nutrients and the implementation of appropriate agronomic practices contribute to sustainability in cattle production systems.

**Figure 8.**

*Relationships of pH and phosphorus with other parameters.*
