POOR PASTURES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 278, 7 March 1929, Page 6

POOR PASTURES.

STIMULATING WITH NITROGEN. Results of Experiments. Areas of from four to 10 acres on each of 90 farms are under an intensive system of management, involving strict rotational grazing, so far as this can be carried out without impairing production of milk and butterfat, states the report of the Plant Research Station, conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Scientific and Industrial Research in cooperation. On each farm one area is

treated with phosphates and another nearly similar area is under the same phosphate treatment, plus three or four applications of lcwt. of soluble nitrogen per acre per annum. Records of stocking with dairy cows and dry stock are being kept to determine the carrying capacity of the differently treated areas. “It is too early,” states the report, “to draw conclusions regarding the economic use of nitrogen on grass land in New Zealand. Results do not appear to be so marked as those of the British Isles. Generally speaking, also, nitrogen stimulation of poor pasture does not appear to be economically worth while. Probably the most significant feature in this work has been the generally high butterfat production on the areas intensively grazed, quite apart from whether they are nitrogen ones or not, in comparison with the production from the rest of the individual farms, the paddocks of which have not been managed as well. This would have been even more striking if the experimental areas could have all been really satisfactorily managed so that all grass production could have been converted into butter-fat. Intensive System.

“In addition, a farm of 50 acres is J ! under the system of intensive manage- | j ment in the Waikato, and is proving I of great value in indicating the man- | J agement difficulties that occur. It is I evident that management is as important a factor as manure application, and full benefit cannot be obtained from the latter until the former is mastered. At Winton (Southland), several fields on another farm have been subdivided, and the intensive system has been introduced. “At the Marton. experimental farm an area of 10 acres has been divided I into eight blocks, four of which are j under phosphate and four under phos-

phate and nitrogen. This trial at present is being carried on with a temporary mob of sheep, and in the autumn it is intended to start off with a line of sheep which will be kept for three or four years. Measurement of carrying capacity and wool and lamb produced will be made. During the spring months this area carried 14 dry sheep per acre on the nitrogen treated areas, and 11 per acre on those having phosphate alone. At the present time the stock on the nitrogen areas are doing noticeably better, and feeding the pasture more cleanly than those on the phosphate. Observation Trials. “A large number of observation trials are in progress throughout New Zealand, and about 180 small | areas are under treatment in Canterbury. Lime, phosphate, potash, and nitrogen are being used in order that the chief factors seriously limiting ! grass growth may be determined as quickly as possible on a variety of soil types. On each experiment duplicate ! areas are laid down. One portion is i under a system of alternate spelling and controlled grazing, the other is j under ordinary paddock management, Jas practised by the farmer. It is expected that theke areas will give the key to the particular treatments which warrant use by the farmer, or further trials of a more searching nature, in order that their economic value may be determined. A sufficient measure of the value of these experiments should be got at the end of this year to enable a decision regarding their general application to the i whole of New Zealand to be arrived ■ at.”