Premium
Sources, Rates, and Frequencies of N Application in Subirrigated Hay Meadow 1
Author(s) -
Daigger L. A.,
Moline W. J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900040031x
Subject(s) - hay , agronomy , urea , fertilizer , chemistry , zoology , ammonium nitrate , environmental science , biology , organic chemistry
Inadequate supplies of soil nutrients often limits hay production of western U. S. subirrigated meadows. Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of three N‐sources at various rates in alternating sequences of N‐applied annually, biennially, and triennially for meadow hay production. The hay consisted of a complex mixture of Agropyron, Poa, Sorghastrum , and Carex species harvested from a subirrigated meadow of an Aquic Ustifluvent soil. Sulfur‐coated urea (SCU), urea, and ammonium nitrate (AN) were broadcast in the spring on subirrigated hay meadows at rates of 0, 34, 67, and 135 kg N/ha applied during 1971, 1972, and 1973. All N sources and rates increased hay yields. There were no differences in hay yields among N sources at the low rates of 34 and 67 kg N/ha, however, at high N‐rates AN and SCU produced higher hay yields than urea. Under these meadow conditions, N‐recovery percentages from SCU were greater than with urea or AN. Total protein production increased with increasing rates of N. Where fertilizers were applied once in 2 years, higher total protein yields were produced with SCU than from urea or AN at the 67 kg N/ha. At higher N rates protein differences between SCU and AN were not observed in the 2‐and 3‐year intervals of N application. Thus, efficient use of N fertilizer can be attained when applied once in 2 years for hay production in subirrigated meadows, where transport of fertilizer materials to the field site is difficult.