EFFECT OF A SPRING APPLICATION OF NITROGEN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS WHITE CLOVER SWARDS AT 2 SITES IN THE NETHERLANDS

Authors
Citation
Rlm. Schils, EFFECT OF A SPRING APPLICATION OF NITROGEN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS WHITE CLOVER SWARDS AT 2 SITES IN THE NETHERLANDS, Netherlands journal of agricultural science, 45(2), 1997, pp. 263-275
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture,"Agriculture Dairy & AnumalScience
ISSN journal
00282928
Volume
45
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
263 - 275
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-2928(1997)45:2<263:EOASAO>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
In the Netherlands, the introduction of milk quota and concern about N losses has led to a lower N application on grassland. Moreover, the p resent government policy will lead to a further reduction of N applica tion. These developments have renewed the interest in white clover. Tw o cutting trails were set up to (i) evaluate the potential performance of mixed swards in the Netherlands and (ii) to quantify the effect of spring N on mixed swards. In a five year trial on clay soil five rate s of N application in spring (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha(-1) year(-1) ) were combined with two cutting frequencies (4-5 cuts year(-1) and 6- 7 cuts year(-1)). In a three year trial on sandy soil only the effects of spring N application (0, 50, and 100 kg ha(-1) year(-1)) were stud ied. Average annual DM yields were 14.66 and 13.76 t ha(-1) year(-1) f or the clay and sandy soil, respectively. Spring application of 100 kg ha(-1) increased the yield in the first cut with 11.1 kg DM per kg ap plied N. White clover contents decreased with increasing N rate, reduc ing the DM yield in the remaining cuts on the fertilised treatments. N evertheless, on an annual basis, 100 kg N ha(-1) increased the yield w ith 7.4 kg per kg applied N. Annual N yields were not affected by spri ng N application. Compared to a cutting frequency of 4 to 5 cuts year( -1) a frequency of 6 to 7 cuts year(-1) increased the white clover con tent from 36 to 47% and the N yield from 458 to 524 kg ha(-1), but did not affect the DM yield. It was concluded that spring application of N can be a practical tool to secure herbage production in spring with only a short-lived negative effect on white clover content.