Open AccessTHE EFFECT OF TOPDRESSING AND LIMING ON UPTAKE OF MINERAL NUTRIENTS IN PASTURE
Author(s) -
K. J. McNaught
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1972.34.1339
Subject(s) - lime , pasture , agronomy , fertilizer , stocking , nutrient , stocking rate , trace element , environmental science , biology , zoology , chemistry , ecology , paleontology , organic chemistry
The effect of a fertilizer element on its concentration in grass/ legume herbage depends mainly on (1) quantity applied, (2) the degree of deficiency, (3) whether the added nutrient is "fixed" or leached and, (4) whether the fertilizer changes the proportion of clover to grass. Fertilizers increase concentrations of major elements in herbage much more in the deficiency range than when levels are already high. However, plants appear to lack the ability to restrict intake of the trace elements. In a stocking rate x lime trial, in which lime increased pasture yields, lime responses in animal production were found only at the high stocking rate, indicating a feed quantity, rather than quality effect. This was confirmed by plant analysis.