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THE PRODUCTIVITY OF A FESTUCA/AGROSTIS ALLUVIAL GRASSLAND AT 1700 FT IN THE NORTHERN PENNINES
Author(s) -
Rawes M.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1963.tb00368.x
Subject(s) - agronomy , phosphorus , potash , pasture , dry matter , grazing , productivity , nitrogen , grassland , fertilizer , environmental science , zoology , chemistry , biology , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , economics
A seasonal herbage dry‐matter yield of 2400 lb/acre was obtained on a soil which by chemical analysis was infertile. Fertilizer treatment doubled yield. Monthly cuttings more than halved the yield but increased the mineral content. The highest levels of ash (8·04%) and nitrogen (3·75%) were obtained on the unfertilized sward in August, under the combined effect of sheep grazing and monthly clipping. Phosphorus levels were very low: 0·002% in the soil and 0·11% (August) in the grazed sward. The effect of varying cutting regimes and of a fertilizer treatment in the first year on yields over 4 years was measured. Little difference was detectable in the final year. Variability in the mineral content was found during the season. The August levels, under enclosure, on a dry‐weight basis, were: ash 5·58%, calcium 0·45%, nitrogen 2·05%, phosphorus 0·13%, potash 1·75%, sodium 0·04% and magnesium 0·09%.