Three Years Results with an Intensively Managed Pasture 1

It is becoming well recognized that permanent pastures in this country are no longer producing proKtably, nor as they should. In many cases the fertility of the soils has become depleted. Until recent years, systematic rotational grazing has been practically unknown, and the restitution of grazed away fertility, likewise, has rarely been practiced. Although bad grazing practices undoubtedly have been an influence in reducing the productivity of these pastures, unpublished data from the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station show that this is inconsequential compared to the major ill of depleted fertility. For the most part, because of improper management, hese pastures have been allowed to drift into a deplorable condition. For the past several years the Wisconsir~ Station has carried on extensive investigations relative to grazing management and fertilization, and this paper is a progress report on one phase of the work, having to do with systematic rotational grazing and heavy fertilization, especially with nitrogen.