The response to fertiliser is maximised by using the right fertiliser at the right time

The response to fertiliser is maximised by using the right fertiliser at the right time, in the right place and at the right rate.

Spring grass is a very valuable source of feed on our farms with high energy and protein contents. The application of early spring N is important to boost grass growth. However, every kg of nitrogen grows 10kg of grass in the

spring, but it grows 30-40kg of grass in the summer. So it’s vital that we manage this properly to get the best possible grass growth response.

Maximising the response to the nitrogen you spread

The response to fertiliser is maximised by using the right fertiliser at the right time. The best response to early fertiliser N application will be achieved when the soil temperature is above 6oC (and rising, the higher the

temperature the better the response) and in paddocks that:

• have predominantly ryegrass
• are recently reseeded
• are drier, free draining, south facing etc.
• have a grass cover over 500kg DM/ha
• have good soil fertility

To maximise the response to N fertiliser, it is necessary to have a high level of soil fertility. Poor soil fertility results in a lower response to N fertiliser application.

Right rate and target the right paddocks

Your of fertiliser application in the spring should be linked to your stocking rate and demand for grass.

The recommendation for N application on intensive dairy farms with reseeded paddocks, paddocks with good perennial ryegrass content, good soil fertility, good grass covers (>400 kg DM/ ha) and warmer/drier

ground. is to have 55-60 units N/acre applied by the 1st April and 80-85 units N/acre by the 1st May.

This is generally broken down into 23 units N/acre in late January/early February followed by 35 units N/acre in March and 25 units/acre in late March/Early April to carry you

to the 1st May.  23 units N/acre is more than enough N for the levels of grass grown from mid-January to the 1st March.

On wetter/colder ground or paddocks with low perennial ryegrass content that take longer in the spring to get going you can in many cases drop the first 23

units N/acre in that late January/ early February period and go with 35 units N/acre by the 1st April.

Nitrogen from slurry is included in the 60 units N/acre recommendation. Its not a case of applying 60 units N/acre bagged fertiliser on top of ground that has also got slurry. Also be aware that you need to maintain a 2m buffer

zone (no fertiliser N applied) from any watercourse when spreading N and never apply fertiliser on waterlogged or frozen soils.

For more information contact your Dairygold Area Sales Manager today.