Effects of high rates of nitrogen fertiliser on dairy pastures and production

High rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser (217 and 324 kg N/ha/y) applied during a farrnlet study at No. 2 Dairy, DRC, Hamilton increased annual net herbage accumulation by 23% and 27% respectively. Increases in feed conservation and milk production reflected the extra pasture growth. On low stocked (3.2 cows/ha) farmlets where 219 and 330 kgN/ba/yr were used, clover contents declined to 12.5% and 3.4% respectively compared with 22.8% where no N was used. Decreased clover content was probably a result of competition from increased growth of ryegrass. At the high stocking rate (4.5 cows/ha), N application resulted in clover contents of 19.6% and 7.9% respectively, compared with 23.8% where no nitrogen was used. Pasture utilisation was better on these fannlets than under the lower stocking rate, suggesting the improved utilisation of additional feed, particularly during spring, was responsible for the higher clover content. Nitrogen fixation activity was lower in pastures which received N fertiliser due to both the decreased clover content and a reduction in activity per clover plant. Keywords: conservation, dairying, milk production, nitrogen fertiliser, pasture production, Trifolium repens

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Nitrogen fertiliser effects on white clover in dairy pastures

NZGA: Research and Practice Series ◽

10.33584/rps.6.1995.3350 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 119-124

Author(s):

S.L. Harris ◽

D.A. Clark ◽

C.D. Waugh ◽

F.H. Clarkson

Keyword(s):

White Clover ◽

Plant Density ◽

Plant Morphology ◽

Pasture Production ◽

N Application ◽

N Rates ◽

And Control ◽

Stocking Rates ◽

Clover Content ◽

Clover Plant

Effects of high N fertiliser rates on white clover content in the sward and clover plant morphology were monitored over two years (June1993-June 1995) at the DRC, Hamilton. The clover study was part of a farmlet trial aimed at increasing milksolids (MS) production to 1750 kg MS/ha using urea (0, 200 or 400 kg N/ha/yr) to increase pasture production at low (3.2 cows/ha) or high (4.5 cows/ha) stocking rates. On low stocked farmlets clover contents declined to 10.6% (200 kg N/ ha/yr) and 2.2% (400 kg N/ha/yr) by June 1995 compared with 16.8% under no N. Decreased clover content was a result of increased competition from N-boosted ryegrass. At the high stocking rate, N application resulted in clover contents of 14.9% (200 kg N/ha/yr) and 6.8% (400 kg N/ha/yr) compared with 15.4% under no N. Pasture utilisation was better on these farmlets, suggesting the improved utilisation and control of additional feed, particularly during spring, was responsible for the higher clover content. Measurements of clover plant density supported the clover content observations. By June 1995 there were 438, 227 and 26 plants/m2 under 0, 200 and 400 kg N/ha/yr respectively. High N rates also affected clover plant morphology; plants developed fewer axillary buds and stolons, and had lower stolon dry weights under 400 kg N/ha/yr. Keywords: clover content, dairying, morphology, nitrogen, plant density, Trifolium repens, white clover

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Evaluation of nitrogen fertiliser in a beef production system

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1990.51.1922 ◽

1990 ◽

pp. 89-92

Author(s):

S.T. Morris ◽

A.F. Mcfrae

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production System ◽

Individual Animal ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Beef Production ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽

Stocking Rates ◽

Objective Being ◽

Clover Content

This paper reports and discusses the results of 4 years of trials (1985-1988) involving 2 farmlets, one receiving 3 nitrogen applications (50 kg /ha) in autumn, winter and spring (+N) and one receiving no N fertiliser (-N). Stocking rags were 3.3 animals/ha on -N farmlet and 4.3 animals/ha on the +N farmlet for the first 3 years, with the objective being to utilise the extra N-boosted grass with extra animals/ha but not to sacrifice individual animal performance. In the fourth year the stocking rates were kept the same on each farmlet (3.3 animals/ha) in an endeavour to utilise the extra grass grown on the +N farmlet by way of increased per head performance. In 2 of the 3 years (1985 and 1987) where the +N farmlet supported the higher stocking rate, liveweight gain (LWG) did not differ between animals. In 1986 the extra animals on the -l-N farmlet had a lower LWG, whereas in 1988 the LWGs were similar for the 2 farmlets stocked at the same rate. The apparent DM responses (kg DM/kg N applied) ranged from 2 to 12. The rates of N fertiliser used in this trial do not appear to result in economic increases in pasture production for the beef production system reported here. Nitrogen fertiliser did not reduce the clover content of pastures rotationally grazed by beef cattle. Keywords beef production, nitrogen fertiliser, pasture composition, livewieght gain, economics.

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White clover or nitrogen fertiliser for dairying?

NZGA: Research and Practice Series ◽

10.33584/rps.6.1995.3348 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 107-114

Author(s):

D.A. Clark ◽

S.L. Harris

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

White Clover ◽

Trifolium Repens ◽

Animal Health ◽

Quality Factors ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽

Feed Quality ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Nitrogen Inputs

Annual production in New Zealand dairy pastures is limited by nitrogen supply and therefore requires nitrogen fertiliser to increase annual pasture production. This paper summarises the advantages and disadvantages of clover nitrogen and fertiliser nitrogen including the effects of both nitrogen sources on feed quantity and quality, factors limiting nitrogen fixation and nitrogen fertiliser response, defoliation effects on white clover (Trifolium repens L.), animal health problems associated with clover and nitrogen fertiliser, and environmental effects. UDDER, a dairy farm simulation model, is used to predict the nitrogen fertiliser rate and white clover content in pasture necessary for optimum pasture production and feed quality. Maximum gross margins per ha and a high level of milksolids production per ha and per cow can be best achieved by combining nitrogen inputs from white clover and nitrogen fertiliser. The model predicts best results would be achieved with clover contents of 30-40% and nitrogen fertiliser rates of 100-200kgN/ha/yr. Keywords: dairying, feed quality, nitrogen fertiliser, nitrogen fixation, Trifolium repens

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Nitrogen use on Canterbury dryland pastures

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1994.56.2137 ◽

1994 ◽

pp. 23-26

Author(s):

J.D. Morton ◽

S.D. Mcbride

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

N Fixation ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽

Wool Production ◽

Stocking Rates ◽

Clover Content ◽

N Use

Results from the first two years of a farmlet trial carried out on a dryland Lismore soil near Ashburton, Mid Canterbury are reported. Farmlet treatments were 0, 25 (25 N) and 50 (50 N) kg N/ha applied as urea in mid-April of 1992 and 1993. Stocking rates for each farmlet were 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 (Year l), and 11, 12 and 13/ha Borderdale ewes/ha (Year 2). For both years of the trial, there were small increases in mean pasture cover from N use despite the higher stocking rates on the N farmlets. Both mean clover content (14%) and N fixation rates (36 kg N/ha/year) were low but only declined slightly with N use. Average lamb carcass weight was lower on the 25 N and 50 N farmlet than the nil N farmlet (16.9 cf 18.3 kg). Despite this decrease, lamb carcass production per ha was significantly higher on the 50 N farmlet (216 kg/ha) compared with the nil N farmlet (199 kg/ha), Similar wool weights per ewe between farmlets resulted in an increase in wool production per ha from both N farmlets (25 N - 34.9 kg/ha, 50 N - 38 kg/ha) compared to nil N (30.8 kg/ha). Keywords: clover content, lamb production, nitrogen fertiliser, nitrogen fixation, stocking rate, wool production

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Nitrogen fixation by caucasian clover and white clover in irrigated ryegrass pastures

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2001.63.2423 ◽

2001 ◽

pp. 171-175

Author(s):

K.H. Widdup ◽

R.G. Purves ◽

A.D. Black ◽

P. Jarvis ◽

R.J. Lucas

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

White Clover ◽

N2 Fixation ◽

N Uptake ◽

Pastoral System ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Trifolium Ambiguum ◽

Enrichment Technique ◽

15N Enrichment ◽

Clover Content

The N2 fixation ability of caucasian clover was compared with that of white clover in irrigated ryegrass pastures over years 2 and 3 of a grazing experiment, using the 15N enrichment technique. 'Endura' caucasian clover was inoculated with the specific Rhizobium strain ICC148. The N concentration in clover herbage and the proportion of clover N derived from N2 fixation (PN) were similar for both clovers at averages of 4.6%N and 50-60% respectively over the 2 years. The amount of N2 fixed per hectare was directly related to the amount of clover dry matter (DM) produced by the two clover species. Caucasian clover produced four times the DM yield of white clover in year 2 (5400 cf. 1450 kg DM/ha) and four times the amount of N2 fixed in herbage (136 cf. 36 kg N/ ha). In year 3, caucasian clover produced 50% more clover DM (3450 cf. 2370 kg DM/ha) and N2 fixed (98 cf. 66 kg N/ha) than white clover. The increased N input from caucasian clover increased grass %N and N uptake from soil in caucasian clover pastures resulting in higher total pasture production compared with white clover pastures (15.7 cf. 14.2 t DM/ha) by year 3. In this study, caucasian clover demonstrated greater potential than white clover to meet the N demands of high-yielding perennial ryegrass in an intensive pastoral system. Keywords: clover content, Lolium perenne, nitrogen fixation, pasture production, Trifolium ambiguum, T. repens

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Effect of high rates of nitrogen fertiliser on white clover growth, morphology, and nitrogen fixation activity in grazed dairy pasture in northern New Zealand

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1080/00288233.1996.9513173 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 149-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

S. L. Harris ◽

D. A. Clark

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

New Zealand ◽

White Clover ◽

Growth Morphology ◽

Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽

Nitrogen Fixation Activity ◽

Fixation Activity

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The impact of farming without nitrogen fertiliser for ten years on pasture yield and composition, milksolids production and profitability; a research farmlet comparison

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2013.75.2925 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 71-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C.B. Glassey ◽

C.G. Roach ◽

J.M. Lee ◽

D.A. Clark

Keyword(s):

White Clover ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽

The Impact ◽

Pasture Yield

Two experimental farmlets were established in the 2001/02 season and run continuously to 2010/11, comparing the impact of two nitrogen (N) fertiliser systems on milksolids (MS) production, profitability and the yield and composition of ryegrass-white clover pastures. Treatments were: 1) No-N. No N fertiliser applied, stocking rate 2.56 cow equivalents/ha (including replacements); 2) Control. Average of 181 kg N/ha/year applied as urea, stocking rate 3.06 cows/ ha (replacements grazed off farm). Annual pasture production was, on average, 2.9 t DM/ha greater on the Control farmlet compared with the No-N farmlet (P

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Specialist winter milk production from pasture at No. 1 dairy farm, Massey University

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1990.51.1900 ◽

1990 ◽

pp. 85-88

Author(s):

G.A. Lynch

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Grassland Management ◽

Total Production ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Research Problems

Premiums offered by some dairy companies for milk produced in the winter months led No. 1 Dairy Farm at Massey University to explore and instigate alternative options for winter milk production. Options were evaluated in a number of computer models, using information gathered from the farm. Transition to 100% autumn calving began in November 1987. 100% autumn calving improved gross margin from the enterprise and provided opportunities to further research problems inherent to winter milk production. Calving cows in autumn coincides with declining pasture growth. Shortfalls between pasture production and stock requirements in early lactation are filled using conserved pasture. The losses and inefficiencies associated with conserving feed are largely responsible for the lower stocking rate carried and lower total production from the farm. Fertiliser nitrogen and winter-active pasture species assume importance in the feeding strategy on the farm. Keywords winter milk production, grassland management

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