The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 5 nitrogen levels on the yield and quality characteristics and the use efficiency of Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandu’ grass. The soil, classified as a Red-Yellow Acrisol, was sampled at a depth of 0 to 0.20 m, for analyses. Soil analyses results were follows: pH in water = 5.6; CEC (T) = 8.17; H +Al = 4.21; sum of bases = 3.96; Ca = 2.8; Mg = 1.1cmolc dm^-3; P = 66.6mg dm^-3; K = 123mg dm^-3; and 1.49 dag kg^-1 organic matter. The area was prepared by plowing followed by disking two times and then fertilized with 300 kg/ha of N-P-K formulation (8-28-16). The Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandu’ was sown at a rate of 3 kg/ha of pure viable seeds in a row spacing of 0.45m. Because of the uniformity of the area, we adopted a completely randomized design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg/ha). Samples of the material were collected to analyze productivity variables, concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen, and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The nitrogen use efficiency, recovery of the applied nitrogen (RAN) and agronomic efficiency of the applied nitrogen (AE) were calculated. The statistical analyses involved the application of procedure PROC MIXED. To select the regression models the criteria utilized was Akaike’s information criterion. Dry mass production increased (P < 0.001) by 1,624.67 (kg/ha) as the nitrogen doses were increased. The doses of nitrogen affected (P < 0.05) the concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (from 294.6 to 381.4 g/kg, in the leaf), crude protein (from 86.1 to 99.6 g/kg, in the leaf) and neutral detergent insoluble protein (from 402.9 to 396.2 g/kg CP, in the leaf). Nitrogen use efficiency increased, whereas RAN and AE were not affected (P > 0.05) by the nitrogen doses. In conclusion, nitrogen fertilization promotes improvement in productivity and chemical composition of Marandu grass, also improving the efficiency with which the grass utilizes the nitrogen.