Journal article
Tropical dairy pasture yield and nitrogen cycling: effect of urea application rate and a nitrification inhibitor, DMPP
Crop and Pasture Science, Vol.67(7), pp.766-779
2016
Abstract
In tropical dairy production systems, where high rates of urea fertiliser are applied, little is known about nitrogen (N) fertiliser response, fertiliser-use efficiency and losses to the environment. This study aimed to determine the effects of N fertiliser (urea) application rate and a nitrification inhibitor (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate, DMPP) on pasture yield and N losses in a dairy production system in North Queensland, Australia. The experiment was a factorial design with two fertiliser rates (industry standard per application 57 kg N ha-1 or half that, applied ~3-weekly), two DMPP rates (0 or 4.86 g kg-1 urea) and four replicates, completed over 1 year. Urea applied at half the industry standard rate, together with DMPP, provided annual dry matter pasture yields (11 462 kg ha-1) not significantly different from those when urea was applied at the higher rate, with or without DMPP (10 691 and 11 156 kg ha-1, respectively). The low rate of urea without DMPP had the lowest annual dry matter yield (8386 kg ha-1). Most of the fertiliser N lost from the system appeared to be via leaching, with loss in surface runoff minimal. During the ryegrass phase, an experiment with 15N labelling showed that, 3 months after application, 27-39% of the applied N had been taken up by the pasture, 23-45% was recovered in the soil, and 18-40% had been lost. Emission of N2O peaked within a day of fertiliser application, and DMPP did not reduce emissions during that period. The findings indicate good potential for farmers to use DMPP-treated urea as a means of reducing N fertiliser rates without loss of productivity and with less loss of N to the environment.
Details
- Title
- Tropical dairy pasture yield and nitrogen cycling: effect of urea application rate and a nitrification inhibitor, DMPP
- Authors
- Jack Koci (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawP N Nelson (Author) - James Cook University
- Publication details
- Crop and Pasture Science, Vol.67(7), pp.766-779
- Publisher
- C S I R O Publishing
- Date published
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1071/CP15400
- ISSN
- 1836-0947
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451160902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
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