Pembleton, Keith G. and Rawnsley, Richard P. and Burkitt, Lucy L. (2013) Environmental influences on optimum nitrogen fertiliser rates for temperate dairy pastures. European Journal of Agronomy, 45. pp. 132-141. ISSN 1161-0301
Abstract
Considerable variability in the yield response of temperate dairy pastures to the strategic use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser has been observed previously. Some of this variation could potentially be attributed to environmental effects on the available N (soil mineral N plus fertiliser N) concentration required to optimise pasture growth. Five nitrogen application rate response field experiments were undertaken in an attempt to elucidate the environmental influence on pasture mineral N requirements. A significant response to N fertiliser application rate was detected in four out of the five experiments. The absence of a significant response in one experiment can be attributed to limited water availability. Across the experiments where a significant response to N fertiliser rate was detected the available N that was required to achieve 90% of maximum yield ranged between 60 and 81 kg N/ha. It is concluded that when water availability, soil temperatures and air temperatures are conducive to pasture growth an available N level of between 60 and 81 kg N/ha should be targeted when N fertiliser is used strategically to optimise pasture growth. Soil N testing results should be interpreted in light of the prevailing climatic and edaphic conditions if they are to be used to guide N fertiliser rate decisions within intensively managed temperate pastures.
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| Item Type: | Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Faculty / Department / School: | Current - Institute for Agriculture and the Environment |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Aug 2016 01:32 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Mar 2017 04:49 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | nitrogen response; soil nitrogen testing; temperate pastures; inorganic nitrogen fertilisers; Tasmania; Australia |
| Fields of Research : | 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070306 Crop and Pasture Nutrition |
| Socio-Economic Objective: | E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
| Identification Number or DOI: | 10.1016/j.eja.2012.09.006 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/29567 |
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