Animal and pasture production as indices of fertilizer maintenance requirements

R.S. Scott

Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1968, 28: 53-64

Responses to 1 cwt and 3 cwt of superphosphate per acre per annum were measured over a seven-year period by various mowing and grazing techniques. Permanent mowing and clipping-return enclosures were considered unsatisfactory. Mowing enclosures which were shifted annually within paddocks top-dressed with either treatment and movable frames using the rate-of-growth techniques were both considered satisfactory. Results indicated that 3 cwt per acre superphosphate applied annually was slightly above maintenance top-dressing requirements.

Responses were also measured by animal performance as lamb meat and wool produced per acre from Romney ewes carried on the trial through their productive life. Two stocking rates were included, the highest increasing to 8.2 ewes per acre in 1967-8 to obtain maximum utilization of available feed. Under the high stocking rate, responses to 3 cwt per acre superphosphate became evident over the final two years.

Owing largely to variability in seasonal production, it is concluded from present results that animal production as an index of fertilizer maintenance requirements has little advantage over mowing techniques in the presence of the grazing animal.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000