500 LB. FAT PER ACRE MAY BE POSSIBLE

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1946, Page 3

500 LB. FAT PER ACRE MAY BE POSSIBLE

MANAIA KESEARCII MAY BE EPOCH-MAKING NEW PLYMOUTJI, Nov. 9. Epoeli-niaking results may be Ihe onteome of experiments in tlie use of [iliosphates to be conducted at the Waimate West demonstration farm, near Manaia, by the lields division of the Departnient of Agriculture. If successful, tho experiments which liave the backing of tests that are said to iiulicate tlie practical possibility of a hitherto unthought oi' level of SUOlb. of butterfat per acre being obtained from pasture alone, will have a reyolutioiiary eli'ect on Taranaki dairy production. JDescribing the objective of the experiments in an interview the Wellington district superintendeut of the lields division of the Departnient oi" Agriculture, Mr. C. 'J. Hamblyn, said that no1 body as yet possessed a clear picture of tlie full capabilities of Taranaki 'a soil response to phosphatic fertiliser. But, he asked, wliy did tlie original grass sovvings in burned over country run out so quickly? The answer was lack of phospliate m tlie soil. Production Leap's Causes. Ile eonsidered also that the reason for Taranaki 's dairy production taking such a forward leap after the discovery of basic slag as a grassland l'ertiliser was that the slag supplied the phospliate that was Jacking. Phosphatic deliciency was also the expianation of pastures deteriorating so rapidly when not treated by super or slag. With war over, Mr. Hamblyn expects shortly to be able to launch at the Waimate West Demonstration Farm a series of tests that have been in liis mind for many years. He aims lo discover the niaximum capacity of Taranaki soil to absorb usefullv phosphatic fertiliser, not only to promote a thiek covcrage of the best pasture grasses, but also to engender vigour and a "quiek punch" reeovery after grazing Ihroughout the year's cycle. Method of Experimentation. To this end he proposes to eslablish a basis lime dressing of the whole farm at, say, 5cwt per acre per year in order to ensure an adequate neutral condition of soil acidity. Hulf of tho farm and half of the herd wiU then carry on as in recent yeais to act as s, control factor,s but the other half of the farm will be subjected to increasingly large .niiplications of phosnliatic

fertiliser, rising from Gcwt per acre dislributed in two dressings a year to Pcwt, or perhaps niore, distributed po_ssibly in three dressings a year. Tlie production and the health of the two herds will be closely observed during the* experiments. Itesearch at Palmerston North has convinced Mr. Hamblyn that phosphatic fertiliser can be applied to Taranaki soil to a degree where an average good dairy cow, such as at present constitutes the Waimate West demonstration l'urin lierd, can produce 5001b. of butterf'iit from each acre of land in each season without injury to her prodnctivo or reproduetive system. Peculiarity May Help. AEr. Hamblyn is conscious that other faetors nmy intrude into his experinient, such, for instance, as the potash requirenient of the soil, but he believes the jieculiar formation of Taranaki soil will be capable of growing grass and clover species to an unprecedented degree when the niaximum absorption of solublc pliosphoric acid has been determined. In this connection he is keenly interested to observe the rate of reeovery after grazing, and to note tlie vigour or growing power of the various species. The production of an average Taranaki dairy , cow ranges aceording to the season from 2501b. to 2701b. of butterfat, and the average cavrying capacity is oue cow to two acres. Hence, one acre produces about 1251b. of butterfat. If Mr. Hamblyn 's ideas can be proved, then it is feasible that, with niore and iore rock phosphate coming into New Zealand, dairy production from the province will be increaserl enoimously without bringing a single extra acre into production. Whatever the results, it is certain that, wrhen the Waimate West experiment is in progi'ess, its results will be watched with the closest interest.