Open AccessResponse of pastures to fertiliser nitrogen on two peat soils in the Waikato region
Author(s) -
W. T. Carlson,
G.L. Lucci,
M. S. Sprosen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of new zealand grasslands
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 2463-2880
pISSN - 2463-2872
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.2017.79.561
Subject(s) - peat , loam , pasture , agronomy , nitrogen , soil water , environmental science , zoology , chemistry , biology , soil science , ecology , organic chemistry
Fertiliser nitrogen (N) response trials were conducted on Waikato dairy pastures on two contrasting peat soils: a well-developed Kaipaki peat loam and a lessdeveloped Rukuhia peat. On the well-developed site the most efficient N fertiliser rate in spring was 25 kg N/ ha with a response of 22 DM/kg N applied. However, in autumn the most efficient rates of N fertiliser were 75 and 100 kg N/ha, with an average response rate of 11 kg DM/kg N. At the less-developed site, the most efficient rates in the spring were 25 to 75 kg N/ha with an average response of 18 DM/kg N applied. In autumn, the maximum response rate of 21 kg DM/kg N was reached through application of 50 and 75 kg N/ha. Results indicate that greater yields are expected from larger applications of N fertiliser on less-developed peat. However, the environmental consequences of increased N fertiliser applications have not yet been assessed. Keywords: nitrogen fertiliser, pasture production, peat