FARM NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 82, 1 November 1939, Page 6

FARM NOTES

FREE FERTILISER

VALUE OF ANIMAL DROPPINGS TOO OFTEN DISREGARDED The following article was written by Mr C. R. Taylor, Fields Inspector to the Department of Agriculture, stationed at Whakatane. Although the general practice of regular and efficient pasture harrow ing for the principal purpose of distributing animal droppings as they accumulate is important, ,it is especially necessary that this essential work be undertaken in a thorough manner in fields which aie liiainl'v used during the winter months for the feeding out oi hay and ensilage to stock. Neglect in this direction not only involves much waste of valuable "stock" nitrogen, but also results in an intensely patchy sward in the spring, and much of the growth is not relished by stock because of its rankness and consequent lack of palatability.

Thus, at a period "when feed is naturally scarce and the early calves require the very best attention that can be given to them, it is obviously not a Avisc plan to have fields in such a state that less tlian half the herbage produced by quite good pastures is insufficiently appetising to maintain these animals in the thriving stage to both man and beast. Value of Nitrogen. Nitrogen ranks as one of the important and essential plant foods, and without it the economic plants could not survive, for it is this element that is mainly responsible for the vegetative growth of plants, that is, formation of leaf, stem, and roots A plentiful supply of available nitrogen, provided that all other necessary elements are also present in the soil, in an available form, is indicated by good growth and a deep green colour, a low nitrogen level results in stunted growth which is a sickly yellow-green in appearance. It is very largely due to the realisation of the importance of nitrogen that every endeavour is made to secure adequate pastures, for the clovers are equipped by Nature with means of storing nitrogen in their 'root nodules per medium of the nitrifying bacteria present in most soils. This nitrogen, which is always

available to other pasture species living in close association with the clovers, results in good, healthy grass growth, high carrying capacity, and satisfactory animal performance . During the winter months, however, with their attendant low soil temperatures, the nitrifying bacteria are least active, and in some districts

entirety inactive. Thus, for a time the manufacture of suitable nitrogen compounds almost ceases, resulting in a condition of temporary nitrogen starvation or, what is more apparent to the farmer, lack of growth.

Use of Droppings.

Animal droppings contain an appreciable amount of nitrogen suitable for assimilation by plants, and it is for this reason that the proper harrowing of pastures is so incessantly advocated In' agricultural authorities. If harrowing is not undertaken just when required, the droppings become too hard to be spread efficiently at a later date. They tend to kill out the patches of pastures over which they lie, and most of ihe vital nitrogen is wasted in that only relatively small areas of pasture benefit from if.

I deliberately use the word "wasted" because the patches that apparently benefit produce such a luxuriant growth of rank, unpalatable feed that stock have literall-v to bo forced to eat it, and force, particularly applied to milch cows, spells waste. It is far better to distribute this valuable source of nitrogen thoroughly and to allow the whole Pasture to benefit.

It is a trait of human nature that

what comes too easily is not valued. When fertilisers are "purchased, the utmost return 3S expected, otherwise keen disappointment is the result. If, however, an abundant supply of a valuable plant food is provided by nature, what is the result? In a large measure, it is simply indifference to the gift.

To-day, as never before in the history of farming throughout the world, every post must be made a winning post if the gap between costs and price is not to become overpowering. Remember that in "animal" nitrogen, farmers have n very real opportunity to benefit themselves in no small way. Therefore, exploit it for all it's worth.