Fertilizer recommendation scheme for phosphorus based on nutrient cycling in permanent pastures in the Basque Country, Northern Spain

Sinclair, A. G.; Rodríguez, M.; Oyanarte, M.; Besga, G.

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2496-8_54

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“…Calculations for the farm were restricted to the areas used in the dairy operation and results converted back to a per hectare basis using the same total area. Results have been presented elsewhere (Sinclair et al, 1993). In this paper the assumptions and calculations involved in the P and K cycles are explained in detail and 17 farms have been monitored to estimate P and K budgets.…”

Section: Estimating P and K Cycle Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an unbalanced situation the budget shows a shortage (or surplus) which can be expressed in kg ha -1 per year. Following this approach, at the Servicio de Investigaci6n y Mejora Agraria (SIMA), a methodology to derive pasture fertilizer recommendations based on nutrient cycling was developed (Sinclair et al, 1993), according to the fertilization scheme used in New Zealand (Cornforth & Sinclair, 1984). It was realized that pastoral systems in the Basque Country differ markedly from those in New Zealand, in that (a) a large proportion of the pasture grown is cut for indoor feeding rather than grazed, (b) large quantities of supplementary animal feed are imported into the systems, (c) large amounts of excreta from housed animals are available for recycling to the pasture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Balanced pasture fertilization in the Basque Country: I. Phosphorus and potassium budgets on dairy farms

Oyanarte¹,

Besga²,

Rodríguez³

et al. 1996

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Dairy farming is the main agricultural activity of the Basque Country. A dairy farm is characterized as a system with soils and crops, forage, cattle and manure as main components, and in such a system, nutrient cycling is very important to maintain soil fertility and optimize forage production. To quantify nutrient transfers in the cycle, a simple system was developed and has been applied to seventeen farms to examine its ability to achieve a balanced P and K fertilization. These farms have provided data on inputs (fertilizer, feeds, concentrates), pasture and manure management, and outputs (milk production), and soil samples have been taken from farm pastures. Phosphorus and K in excreta and uneaten pasture is used with a relatively high efficiency as suggested by the relatively high efficiency of P and K utilization by the pasture that usually ranges from 70 to 90%. Concentrate feeding (3000 kg cow-t yr-l) represents one of the main P and K inputs in Basque Country dairy farms, averaging 26 and 66 kg ha -l, respectively. Besides, release of K in the soil through slow liberation from non-exchangeable sites was estimated as 30 kg ha -I. Thus, a high efficiency in excreta recycling would diminish substantially P and K mineral fertilizer needs. Farm nutrient budgets appear to be a convenient tool for determining nutrient shortages and surpluses at farm level, and thus they are considered as a first step to support a better management of maintenance fertilization of permanent pastures.

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Section: Estimating P and K Cycle Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%