Open AccessAn assessment of current fertiliser practices in New Zealand hill country
Author(s) -
D. C. Edmeades,
R.M. Mcbride,
M. H. Gray
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
grassland research and practice series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2463-4751
pISSN - 0110-8581
DOI - 10.33584/rps.16.2016.3229
Subject(s) - pasture , soil fertility , phosphorus , agronomy , productivity , nutrient , soil water , environmental science , agroforestry , potassium , geography , economics , ecology , biology , soil science , chemistry , economic growth , organic chemistry
In the last decade major reviews on the phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) nutrient requirements of clover-based pastures in New Zealand have been completed. This has resulted in adjustments to the P, K and S pasture production functions and some changes to the critical levels for soil tests, and modifications to our interpretation of some soil tests such as Organic S and Reserve K. Applying this new information to New Zealand's hill country pastoral soils, using case studies, suggests that there is considerable unrealized potential to increase productivity. Keywords: critical levels, economics, fertiliser, pasture, phosphorus, potassium, soil fertility, soil tests, sulphur