TOP-DRESSING GRASSLANDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 9

TOP-DRESSING GRASSLANDS

WINTER APPLICATIONS GREAT All) TO INCREASED PRODUCTION The up-to-date fanner or orchurdist is fully alive to the very great importance of correct treatment of Hie soil by means of artificial fertilisers. Expett-ment-s, in which me. Cawthron Institute lias played and is playing its part and could do still more did finances permit, have produced results ot immense value and primary production will increase to ii greater extent as more farmers avail themselves of modern methods. Mr G. 11. llolford, B.Ag., New Zealand representative of Imperial Chemical Industries, who was in Nelson this week, remarked to a “Mail” representative that the value of winter applications of sulphate of ammonia to pastures had been clearly demonstrated by thorough experiments carried out by the great organisation lie represents and also at Rothamstead. lie stressed that farmers should be strongly urged to apply sulphate of ammonia to the better types of pastures —those up to the _ryegrass—white clover standard if possible. Best results come from pastures that have been previously treated with phosphates (also potash in some districts) and to those with an. adequato supply of lime. In fact, on land deficient in lime, phosphates or potash, sulphate of ammonia should not be applied. Grassland on which phosphates do riot encourage clover growth are often deficient in lime. Additional points made were as follows :—To ensure best results the paddocks to be top-dressed with sulphate of ammonia should previously have been closely grazed to remove surplus growth. If necessary, the mower should, run over the pasture. A good tine harrowing at this time spreads manure droppings, aerates the soil to some extent, removes a certain amount of “foggage,” and enables the fertiliser applied lo get quickly to the roots of the pasture plants. Such fertilisers as rock phosphates, guano, lionedust, blood and bone and potassic manures can bo mixed with sulphate of ammonia, hut many farmers prefer to sow these in March-April. The time of application depends on the period when the grass is required. For late July and early August grazing the sulphate of ammonia should be applied in June. The rate of growth, while it varies according to the type of pasture, soil, district and season, is naturally slow in July, and it is advisable to apply the fertiliser before growth lias reached the lowest point. For the production of bay or ensilago a dressing of sulphate of Ammonia at the rate of 1-U cwts. per acre may bo applied with advantage after the earliest paddocks are grazed in August. A good plan is to lopdress the most forward paddock first. Then treat another a week later, the, next a week later than the second, and so on. This en-' sin es a succession, of feed for the stock.

Mr Holford added that sulphate of ammonia would make the grass come a month or so earlier in tlie spring. Jlo outlined the stf.ps to he taken and emphasised the importance of grazing the pastures in rotation. The advantage of securing early grass applied equally to the dairy farmer and the sheep farmer.