scholarly journals Exploring options to reduce nitrogen leaching while maintaining profitability within a Canterbury farm business comprising several distinct enterprises

2018 ◽  
pp. 191-194
Author(s):  
Pierre C Beukes ◽  
Taisekwa Chikazhe ◽  
J Paul Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Catch Crop ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
Crop Area ◽  
Fertiliser Use ◽  
Farm Business

This paper reports on a study evaluating the effects of nitrogen (N) mitigations on N leaching and profitability across all hectares of a farm business consisting of a dairy platform, dairy support and beef blocks. Two different models were used, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Mitigation options focussed on N fertiliser use, plantain-ryegrass-clover diverse pastures, cropping regime, and animal and feed movements between the blocks. A combination of less N fertiliser, replacing kale with fodder beet for wintering to reduce the crop area, an oats catch-crop following autumn-harvested fodder beet, diverse pastures on a proportion of platform and support blocks, and wintering non-pregnant cows on the beef block reduced N leaching by 19%. Profitability was not affected by these mitigations. Profitability did not increase, but N leaching did, when changing to an all-dairy business model. Nitrogen leaching reductions can be achieved if all enterprises implement some or all of these mitigations.

scholarly journals Modelling options to increase milk production while reducing N leaching for an irrigated dairy farm in Canterbury

2017 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
P.C. Beukes ◽  
P. Edwards ◽  
T. Coltman
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Catch Crop ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
Farm System

Abstract The Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching programme (FRNL) aims to address the challenge of presenting farmers with alternatives for forage production that will sustain milk production and farm profit, but simultaneously reduce nitrogen leaching by 20% from current levels. This paper describes the improvements made to a dairy model comprising three software packages, and how this model was used to evaluate proposed farm system changes on a Canterbury dairy farm (Canlac Holdings) associated with the FRNL programme. After a baseline scenario was sensechecked against actual farm physical and financial data for the 2014-2015 season, alternative options were modelled in an additive way by expanding the effluent area, growing fodder beet on the platform, replacing some pasture with maize silage, growing diverse pastures on 7% of the milking platform, and including a feed pad. The cumulative effect of these changes was an increase of 3 and 13% in production and profit respectively, but only a 5% decrease in nitrogen leaching as estimated for the combined platform and support block areas over 3 climate years. A hypothetical scenario, of a third of the platform in diverse pastures, less nitrogen fertiliser, all fodder beet grown on the milking platform, lifted and fed on the feed pad, and with an oats catch crop following fodder beet, increased production and profit by 2 and 10%, respectively, with a reduction in N leaching of 19%. This result indicates that high-performing farmers have scope to reduce N leaching by ~20% and still increase profit by implementing some of the options emanating from the FRNL programme. Keywords: diverse pastures, dairy farm system, fodder beet, effluent block, feed pad, catch crop

scholarly journals Nitrogen leaching losses from fodder beet and kale crops grazed by dairy cows in southern SouthlandNitrogen leaching losses from fodder beet and kale crops grazed by dairy cows in southern Southland

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 61-71
Author(s):  
L. Chris Smith ◽  
Ross M. Monaghan
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
First Year ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Previous Season ◽  
Crop Type ◽  
Dairy Animals ◽  
Urinary Nitrogen

Fodder beet has become increasingly common as both a winter forage and as a supplement at the shoulders of the dairy season in southern New Zealand. One advantage over the more traditional kale crop option is that fodder beet results in less urinary nitrogen (N) excretion in dairy animals, potentially reducing N leaching. Two trials were undertaken to measure nitrogen leaching losses under both autumn-grazed or autumn-lifted fodder beet crops. Leaching losses were also measured from winter-grazed fodder beet and winter-grazed kale treatments. Results from Trial 1 show that leaching losses from autumn-lifted or autumn-grazed fodder beet  treatments were large (108–131 kg N ha-1) relative to losses measured in the winter-grazed fodder beet treatment (82 kg N ha-1). This indicates that autumn-grazed fodder beet crops have a greater potential for N leaching than winter-grazed fodder beet. The practice of lifting and removing fodder beet during autumn appeared to reduce N leaching somewhat, but losses were still relatively large, perhaps due to carryover of N from the previous season as a result of the dry summer conditions that preceded the drainage season in in the first year of Trial 1. The amount of N leached from the winter-grazed fodder beet treatment from Trial 1 at 82 kg N ha-1 was 50% less than the 176 kg N ha-1 observed for the kale crop. Results from Trial 2 using larger plots showed a similar trend, with winter-grazed fodder beet leaching 42% less N than winter-grazed kale (41 vs 70 kg N ha-1; P<0.001), despite not all the urine N being collected by the end of the drainage season. These losses are relatively large compared to the annual N leaching losses measured from pasture paddocks on the same farm, which ranged from 13–23 kg N ha-1. Considerations of grazing and/or harvest timing (autumn vs winter) as well as crop type appear to be important factors that determine N leaching losses from Southland dairy systems.

scholarly journals Response of Vertical Migration and Leaching of Nitrogen in Percolation Water of Paddy Fields under Water-Saving Irrigation and Straw Return Conditions

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengxin Zheng ◽  
Zhanyu Zhang ◽  
Yunyu Wu ◽  
Richwell Mwiya
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Migration ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Leaching Loss ◽  
Straw Return ◽  
Percolation Water

The use of water-saving irrigation techniques has been encouraged in rice fields in response to irrigation water scarcity. Straw return is an important means of straw reuse. However, the environmental impact of this technology, e.g., nitrogen leaching loss, must be further explored. A two-year (2017–2018) experiment was conducted to investigate the vertical migration and leaching of nitrogen in paddy fields under water-saving and straw return conditions. Treatments included traditional flood irrigation (FI) and two water-saving irrigation regimes: rain-catching and controlled irrigation (RC-CI) and drought planting with straw mulching (DP-SM). RC-CI and DP-SM both significantly decreased the irrigation input compared with FI. RC-CI increased the rice yield by 8.23%~12.26%, while DP-SM decreased it by 8.98%~15.24% compared with FI. NH4+-N was the main form of the nitrogen leaching loss in percolation water, occupying 49.06%~50.97% of TN leaching losses. The NH4+-N and TN concentration showed a decreasing trend from top to bottom in soil water of 0~54 cm depth, while the concentration of NO3−-N presented the opposite behavior. The TN and NH4+-N concentrations in percolation water of RC-CI during most of the rice growth stage were the highest among treatments in both years, and DP-SM showed a trend of decreasing TN and NH4+-N concentrations. The NO3−-N concentrations in percolation water showed a regular pattern of DP-SM > RC-CI > FI during most of the rice growth stage. RC-CI and DP-SM remarkably reduced the amount of N leaching losses compared to FI as a result of the significant decrease of percolation water volumes. The tillering and jointing-booting stages were the two critical periods of N leaching (accounted for 74.85%~86.26% of N leaching losses). Great promotion potential of RC-CI and DP-SM exists in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, and DP-SM needs to be further optimized.

Catch crops and feeding strategy can reduce the risk of nitrogen leaching in late lactation fodder beet systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendon J. Malcolm ◽  
John M. de Ruiter ◽  
Dawn E. Dalley ◽  
Sam Carrick ◽  
Deanne Waugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Catch Crops ◽  
Fodder Beet

scholarly journals NITROGEN LEACHING LOSSES FROM CONTAINER-GROWN ROSES.

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 583a-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul I. Cabrera ◽  
Richard Y. Evans ◽  
J. L. Paul
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Flower Yield ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Leaching Fraction ◽  
Cut Flower Yield ◽  
One Year ◽  
Nutrient Solutions

Nitrogen leaching losses of 21, 40 and 49% were measured from container-grown `Royalty' roses irrigated for one year with nutrient solutions containing 77, 154 and 231 mg N/l. There were no significant differences in number of flowers per plant or dry matter per plant. The N present in the harvested flowers accounted for 43, 27 and 17% of the N applied for the 77, 154 and 231 mg N/l treatments, respectively. Plants receiving 154 mg N/l at leaching fractions of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 had corresponding N leaching losses of 22, 38 and 56%. In this experiment, however, the 0.5 leaching fraction produced yields significantly higher than those of the 0.1 and 0.25 treatments. The N recovered in the harvested flowers accounted for 28, 25 and 19% of that applied to the 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 treatments, respectively. The results of these studies suggest that modifications in current irrigation and fertilization practices of greenhouse roses would result in a considerable reduction of N leaching losses and enhance N fertilizer use efficiency, without loss of cut flower yield and quality.

scholarly journals Effect of nitrogen fertiliser rate on production and nitrogen leaching from Italian ryegrass following a maize silage crop

2003 ◽  
pp. 133-137
Author(s):  
A.A. Judge ◽  
R.N. Jensen ◽  
M.S. Sprosen ◽  
S.F. Ledgard ◽  
E.R. Thom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Yield Responses

Dry matter (DM) yield responses and field nitrogen (N) leaching losses were assessed following the application of 4 rates of N fertiliser to an Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) crop grown after maize. The trial was conducted on a free-draining Horotiu silt loam (typic orthic allophanic soil) at Dexcel's Scott Farm near Hamilton, New Zealand. The grass was direct dr illed into maize stubble on 13 April 2002. Small plots received a total of 0, 40, 100 or 160 kg N/ha as urea, split into 4 equal applications from May to July. Total DM production over 24 weeks for the 0, 40, 100 or 160 kg N/ha treatments was 2730, 3487, 4238 and 4840 kg DM/ha, respectively. Additional kg DM produced/kg N applied was 19, 15 and 13, respectively. The 'apparent' proportion of applied N removed in the herbage from all plots was 55- 60%. Herbage nitrate-N concentrations exceeded the commonly accepted critical level of 0.21% on the 160 kg N/ha treatment at the first harvest on 3 July 2002, when only half of each N rate had been applied. There were no significant treatment differences in leaching losses (range 17-34 kg N/ha). Italian ryegrass grown on a silt loam soil after maize showed an almost linear yield response to N fertiliser over the range 40-160 kg N/ha, without increased inorganic N leaching. Further work is necessary to confirm these results and to establish whether or not higher rates of N fertiliser can be used to increase winter dry matter yields from Italian ryegrass, without increasing N leaching losses. Keywords: annual ryegrass, dairy systems, double cropping, nitrogen leaching

scholarly journals Farm Labor Monopsony: Farm Business And The Child Hierarchical Model Of Fertility

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Douglas B. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Child Labor ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Labor Demand ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
Low Wages

Arthur Lewis (1954) classic article on duel labor markets suggests that subsistence labor, due to high fertility and overpopulation, causes low wages.  Basu (1999) and Dessy (2000) show a compelling theory for high fertility in developing countries where regions go into a poverty trap of low labor demand, low wages and overpopulation.  An alternative explanation for overpopulation has to do with a simple farm business model where farming families have a labor monopsony for their own child labor.  Child labor, not from society at large but from the farm family’s own children, can be a source of labor to run a farm business.  The farm business model shows how, due to simple monopsony characteristics, it may be cheaper for a farmer to use fertility induced, family child labor, rather than expensive non-family labor, to provide his labor supply and increase his rent.  Children can provide the farmer with labor that has a psychological barrier to exit, making it easy to add human capital without paying a high wage.  However, due to sibling rivalry and child psychological growth stages of binding, delegating and expelling, older children will be forced to leave the farm inducing greater fertility to replace them.  We assume capital investment options and the use of technology are limited for such farms due to monsoon rainy seasons, dense forests or steep hills, which suggests the need for labor intensive farms.  The end result is that child labor is a way to provide significant profit to a farm business. 

Effects of catch crop type and root depth on nitrogen leaching and yield of spring barley

2012 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 129-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tek Bahadur Sapkota ◽  
Margrethe Askegaard ◽  
Mette Lægdsmand ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Spring Barley ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Catch Crop ◽  
Root Depth ◽  
Crop Type

scholarly journals Integration of measures to mitigate reactive nitrogen losses to the environment from grazed pastoral dairy systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 152 (S1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. MONAGHAN ◽  
C. A. M. DE KLEIN
Keyword(s):  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
N Efficiency ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Dairy Systems ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYThe need for nitrogen (N) efficiency measures for dairy systems is as great as ever if we are to meet the challenge of increasing global production of animal-based protein while reducing N losses to the environment. The present paper provides an overview of current N efficiency and mitigation options for pastoral dairy farm systems and assesses the impact of integrating a range of these options on reactive N loss to the environment from dairy farms located in five regions of New Zealand with contrasting soil, climate and farm management attributes. Specific options evaluated were: (i) eliminating winter applications of fertilizer N, (ii) optimal reuse of farm dairy effluent, (iii) improving animal performance through better feeding and using cows with higher genetic merit, (iv) lowering dietary N concentration, (v) applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and (vi) restricting the duration of pasture grazing during autumn and winter. The Overseer®Nutrient Budgeting model was used to estimate N losses from representative farms that were characterized based on information obtained from detailed farmer surveys conducted in 2001 and 2009. The analysis suggests that (i) milk production increases of 7–30% were associated with increased N leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission losses of 3–30 and 0–25%, respectively; and (ii) integrating a range of strategic and tactical management and mitigation options could offset these increased N losses. The modelling analysis also suggested that the restricted autumn and winter grazing strategy resulted in some degree of pollution swapping, with reductions in N leaching loss being associated with increases in N loss via ammonia volatilization and N2O emissions from effluents captured and stored in the confinement systems. Future research efforts need to include farm systems level experimentation to validate and assess the impacts of region-specific dairy systems redesign on productivity, profit, environmental losses, practical feasibility and un-intended consequences.

scholarly journals Estimation of nitrogen leaching load from agricultural fields in the Puck Commune with an interactive calculator

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Dybowski ◽  
Lidia Anita Dzierzbicka-Glowacka ◽  
Stefan Pietrzak ◽  
Dominika Juszkowska ◽  
Tadeusz Puszkarczuk
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Nitrogen Leaching ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Opinion Poll ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Single Field ◽  
The Baltic

Background Nutrient leaching from agricultural fields is one of the main causes of pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. The quantity of nitrogen (N) leached from a particular field can be very different from the amount of N leached from other fields in a given region or even within a single farm. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the quantity of N leached for each field separately. Methods An opinion poll has been conducted on 31 farms within the Puck Commune, which is approximately 3.6% of all farms located in this commune. Farmers provided data on the manner of fertilizing and cultivating crops on all their farms. For each field individually, on the basis of collected data, an estimated amount of the N leaching from the field has been determined. Results An interactive calculator to assist farmers in determining the quantity of N leaching from the agricultural field has been developed. The influence of factors shaping the amount of N leaching from a single field has been analyzed, and it has been determined that autumn plowing (specifically its absence) and the type of cultivated soil had the greatest average influence on this value in the studied sample. Discussion Due to the possible ways of reducing N leaching from agricultural fields, most of the studied fields were fertilized in an appropriate manner. However, in the studied sample there were fields for which the fertilization intensity significantly exceeded the recommended doses. In this context, a tool in the form of an interactive, easy-to-use N leaching calculator should help farmers to select appropriate doses and optimal fertilization practices.

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