forage fertilization - craaq

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Forage Fertilization

Economic vs. Environmental

Home-grown fertility - Manure

Nitrogen on pure grasses

J.H Cherney and D.J.R. Cherney

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Agronomic Issues

S and K on alfalfa

Society Viewpoint: Society wants farmers to adopt sustainable practices, but they don’t want to pay for it.

Farmer Viewpoint: Farmers are generally environmentalists. They also have families to feed.

“It is hard to be green when you are in the red.”

Nutrient Management Regulations


International Plant Nutrition Institute

- Apply the right source.

- Use the right rate.

- Fertilize at the right time.

- Fertilize in the right place.

Dairy manure

0 to 180 Mg/ha fresh manure

Maximum of 45 t/ha/application

Application in Spring, after 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Cuts.

Semi-solid manure with sawdust bedding.

Manure application timing on Orchardgrass

Surface application for 5 seasons.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

t D

M h

a-1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

142004

2005

2006

2007

Year 1 not shown

High rate of manure

outyielded N fert.

Moderate rate of

manure outyielded N

fert. after two years.

Treatments not

expressed in stress

years (2007).

Manure Treatment (wet manure)

Application 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N fert.

Spring 22.5 45 0 0 45 0 45 112

After 1st cut 22.5 45 0 0 45 0 45 84

After 2nd cut 22.5 0 45 0 45 45 45 56

After 3rd cut 22.5 0 45 90 0 90 45 0

Soil depth, inches

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Soil

K

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

90 t/ha

135 t/ha

180 t/ha

N fertilizer

Check

90, 135 t/ha

180 t/ha

Fall of Second Season, Manure on Grass


Soil depth, inches

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Soil

Nitra

te

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

90 t/ha

135 t/ha

180 t/ha

N fertilizer

Check

0, 90, 135 t/ha

180 t/ha

Fall of Second Season, Manure on Grass

Threshold between

135 and 180.

Top dress Manure applications

- Where nutrients are needed

- Use low-moderate rates

- Immediately after harvest

- Older/higher grass stands

- Limit to firm soils if possible


% a

mm

onia

N r

em

ain

ing

0

20

40

60

80

100

0

20

40

60

80

100

Injected

Incorporated within x days

1 2 3 4 5 Not incorporated

or injected in fall

Fate of ammonia N in manure

Fresh Manure is about:

50% ammonia N

50% organic N

Improved Application Methods

(Drop hose, injectors etc.)

- Reduced ammonia loss

- More uniform application

- Less contamination

- Less odor

- Decreased runoff

May reduce yield on higher fertility sites.


Re

lea

se

Ra

te o

f O

rga

nic

N f

rom

Ma

nure

, %

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Application year Next year Two years

Poultry manure

Dairy manure <18% DM

Dairy manure >18% DM

Fate of organic N in manure

Manure is a good source of

nutrients that alfalfa needs: P,K,S,B

- Multiple windows for application

- Increases acreage for spreading

- Absorbs excess nitrates in soil

- Possible increased yield

- Significant benefit to alfalfa from

previous manure on corn.


Negatives for manure on alfalfa

- Possible stand damage

(Burning or traffic damage)

- No economic value from N

- Nutrient runoff, late fall/winter

- Pathogens

- Increased weeds

Commercial N fertilizer

Price

(d

olla

rs/lb n

utr

ien

t)

Price trends for urea, triple superphosphate,

and potassium chloride fertilizers.

Fertilizer costs have doubled in the past 10 years.


Nitrogen on Pure Grass

What grasses do we use?

Decades

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

% o

f seed s

old

in N

YS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Timothy

Smooth Brome

Orchardgrass

Reed Canarygrass

Tall fescue

Ryegrass

Grass seed sold in NY

2015

Timothy

Tall fescue


Fertilizer N applied per season, kg/ha

0 100 200 300 400

Hay Y

ield

, t/

ha

0

2

4

6

8

10

Dry year

Wet year

Normal year

Nitrogen Management

Very wet year

Spring N application, kg/ha

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

CP

, %

5

10

15

20

25

5

10

15

20

25

Timothy

Reed canarygrass

Reed canary is 2.5% units higher in CP.

(Average of 3 sites, 3 years, 4 reps)

2-3000 ppm

nitrate-N

Linear rate from 0-134 kg N

0.13% units CP/kg N fert.


Sensors

Yield measurement with C-Dax

Pasture meter

Rising Plate meter: 250 readings/500 m

C-Dax: 19,000 readings/500 m

Map-based

variable rate

N fertilizer.

Sensor-based Variable Rate application:

Each spray nozzle with an NDVI sensor.

Liquid N applied

to pastures.


Tasmanian Inst. of Ag. Dairy Centre

Similar forage yield with 20% less N fertilizer.

Variable Rate N on pastures

Sulfur Issues

Sulfur Removal with Alfalfa

Crop nutrient removal:

Nutrient %* Alfalfa hay yield (t DM/ha) 3 6 12

N 3.40 102 204 408 P 0.27 8 16 33 K 2.34 70 141 281

Ca 1.51 45 91 182 Mg 0.31 9 19 38 S 0.27 8 16 33 *Percentages from DairyOne Forage Library (legume hay) – 11-11-2014


Sulfur Deficiency

Sulfur deficiency can lead to lower crop yields, a crude protein deficiency,

reduced milk production, and decreases in overall feed quality.

+S +S

Average total S deposition in NY is now less than 9 lbs S/acre

1985 1986 1984

Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition

1985-2008


1995 1996 1994


1985-2008

2005 2006 2004


1985-2008



1985-2008

2008 2009 2007

1985


1985-2008

2008


Tissue testing for sulfur

y = 18,5x + 45,017 R² = 0,8721

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0

Rela

tive

yie

ld (

%)

Tissue S (g kg-1)

Critical value: 0.27% S

Ketterings et al., 2011

pH too low

y = -0,1755x2 + 6,1481x + 56,92 R² = 0,9371

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tive

yie

ld (

%)

CaCl2 or SrCl2 extractable soil S (ppm)

pH too low!

Ketterings et al., 2011

Soil testing for sulfur

Critical value: 8 ppm


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Oct-00 Feb-02 Jun-03 Nov-04 Mar-06 Aug-07 Dec-08 May-10 Sep-11

Soil t

est S

(m

g k

g-1

)

Timing of sampling

Inorganic N

Compost N-based

Compost P-based

Liguid manure N-based and surface applied

Liguid manure P-based and incorporated

Critical soil test S value

Rapid decline with crop removal

over years

Sulfur Management

Summary Manure applied recently?

• If yes, no need for sulfur

Other fields:

• Tissue test (top 6 inches, early bloom, 2nd/3rd cut):

• If <0.25%, add sulfur (22-34 kg S/ha)

• Soil test (0-8 inch depth, 1st cut):

• If < 8 ppm Cornell soil test S, add S

• Mehlich or Morgan are not reliable for S

• Experiment:

• Apply ½ lbs gypsum (39 kg S/ha) to

a 10x10 feet area after 1st cutting

• Check results before 2nd cutting

K Issues


Potassium supplying

power of

New York State soils.

Colors range from very high to very low.

Potassium deficient plants are more susceptible to winter injury.

Potassium Deficiency


Potassium Removal with Alfalfa

Crop nutrient removal:

Nutrient %* Alfalfa hay yield (t DM/ha) 3 6 12

N 3.40 102 204 408 P 0.27 8 16 33 K 2.34 70 141 281 Ca 1.51 45 91 182 Mg 0.31 9 19 38 S 0.27 8 16 33 *Percentages from DairyOne Forage Library (legume hay) – 11-11-2014

8x

0

2 000

4 000

6 000

8 000

10 000

12 000

14 000

N a

nd

K2O

us

e U

S (

1,0

00 s

ho

rt t

on

s)

Potash (K2O)

Nitrogen

2009

1960 2013

Potassium Chloride Use in US


Soil Test K Decline with Alfalfa

2006 Spring

2006 Fall

2007 Spring

2007 Fall

2008 Spring

2008 Fall

2009 Spring

2009 Fall

2010 Spring

2010 Fall

Inorganic N 138 114 136 128 108 120 102 72 124 112

Manure P 200 172 176 160 122 146 128 104 144 138

Compost P 186 164 178 156 144 136 126 88 136 122

Compost N 262 224 238 196 178 176 152 114 150 136

Manure N 278 270 296 278 250 250 238 176 216 166

d

d

cc

cc

c

c

bb

bc

bc bc

bc

bc

bc

bc

bc

bab

cd

cd

bc

bcbc

bcbc

bc

b

ab

ab

ab

b

b

b b

b

b

b

ab

aa

a

a

a aa

a

a

a

0

50

100

150

200

250

300M

org

an s

oil

tes

t K

(lb

s/ac

re)

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6

K c

on

ten

t (%

)

Yield of 3rd cut (tons/acre)

A

Tissue (0-6 inches)

Whole plant

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

K c

on

ten

t (%

)

Season yield (tons/acre)

B

Tissue (0-6 inches)

Whole plant

Tissue K and Yield not Correlated.


On-Farm Alfalfa Trials in NY

y = -1E-05x2 + 0,0057x + 0,4047 R² = 0,8588

0,60

0,65

0,70

0,75

0,80

0,85

0,90

0,95

1,00

0 50 100 150 200 250

Re

lati

ve Y

ield

Cornell Morgan soil test K (lbs/acre)

• Initial critical value

STP ~ 150 lbs

K/acre …when the

stand had 50% or

more alfalfa.

• No response to K

with <50% alfalfa.

Potassium Management

Summary

Manure applied recently?

• If yes, probably no need for K fertilizer

Other fields:

• Forget about tissue testing for now…

Soil test (0-8 inch depth, 1st cut):

• Use interpretation tables

• Experiment:

• Apply ¼ kg 0-0-60 (145 kg K2O /ha) to a

10x10 feet area after 1st cutting; check before

2nd cut


Agronomic Summary

Nutrient management can pay, both

agronomically and environmentally

Incorporate manure if at all possible.

Consider variable rate N application.

Monitor S and K status with alfalfa.

Animal Issues

Animal Issues


Cow well-being

Growing Environmental Concerns


As more producers try to minimize environmental impact and be sustainable, fertilization of homegrown feeds is increasingly important.

Homegrown feeds

• Consider the balance between inputs and measured outputs of the nutrients. Relative amounts of NPK required by pasture and arable crops differ from elements in manure; manure is too enriched in P relative to N.

Nutrient balances =

• Grazing systems affect soil and more particularly water courses if manure or silage is not stored properly and leaks out. The resultant point source contamination can affect soil for many years, destroy aquatic life and make water unfit for consumption.


“As simple” as understanding the nutrient requirements of dairy cows at various stages of lactation, and combining various feed ingredients to meet those needs in a cost-effective manner.

Dairy Nutrition =

Determine the relative ability of cows to turn feed nutrients into milk or milk components.

50 kg milk/33.3 kg of DM feed = 1.5 FE

52 kg milk/33.3 kg of DM feed = 1.56 FE

Feed Efficiency =

Feed efficiency becomes increasingly important during times of tight profit margins.

In the simplest terms it is the kg of milk produced per kg of dry matter consumed.


Mixtures with higher Quality

1. Harvest earlier 2. Higher quality components 3. Less grass in mixture

Higher quality components: 1. Low-lignin alfalfa 2. Sparse-heading orchardgrass

Less Grass in the mixture: 1. Sparse-heading orchardgrass 2. Meadow fescue 3. Lower grass seeding rate

Quality of Alfalfa and Grass - May 29

Alfalfa: 30% CP, 28% NDF, 60% NDFD Grass: 19% CP, 54% NDF, 80% NDFD

Midwest Nutritionist Survey Major Challenges to dairy farmers

1. Forage quality consistency

What has the greatest impact on forage quality consistency of mixtures?


Evaluation of Alfalfa-Grass Quality

in the Spring

Quality equations were developed

based primarily on:

a. maximum alfalfa height and

b. percentage of grass in the mixed stand.

Goal:

Develop a simple tool for estimating

NDF content of alfalfa-grass mixtures.

Need a prediction better than a guess

1. Capture digital images from representative samples of mixed stands.

2. Determine stand composition values for each sample.

3. Create a software system to predict composition.

4. Generate a free web service on http://www.forages.org.


Evaluating stand composition

of mixtures post-harvest.

DairyOne has analyzed 540 alfalfa-grass samples of known composition, for NIRS calibration.

It is possible to calibrate NIR to measure alfalfa% in hay silage samples.

Alfalfa% Post-harvest (using NIRS)

1. Help decide when to start treating the stand like grass (fertilization).

2. Provide info about crop rotation.

3. Allow ranking harvest order of fields for the following spring. 4. Nutrient management record keeping. 5. Assessment of stands with ASB.


Dietary Protein = Affects both dairy cow

nutrition and overall

farm sustainability.

(1) effects on dry matter intake (DMI), milk

yield, and milk composition,

(2) effects on feed costs,

(3) environmental effects, and

(4) possible effects on reproduction

efficiency.

Dietary protein has:

Feed

Milk

Cow

Volatilization

Excreta

Grazing

Housing

Volatilization Volatilization

Volatilization

Excreta

Application Storage

Loss to soils, groundwater, biota


These interventions, however, have to be balanced with the risk of loss in milk production. If animal requirements for metabolizable protein are not met, long-term production cannot be sustained.

Lower Dietary Protein = (1) Reduces N input. (2) Improves N utilization efficiency. (3) Reduces N loss from manure. (4) Reduces feed cost and improves overall farm profitability.


plus feed protein that escapes ruminal

degradation (but is digested and absorbed in the small intestine).

Metabolizable Protein = digestible protein

(digestible total

amino acids) that

is provided to the

animal through ruminally-synthesized microbial protein,


Uses accumulated knowledge about feed

composition, digestion, and metabolism in

supplying nutrients to meet requirements.

Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System = (CNCPS)

Predicts: (1) Feed utilization, (2) Animal performance, (3) Nutrient excretion

For dairy and beef cattle.

have forced the animal industry to re-evaluate the levels formulated in diets. It has been demonstrated in numerous research trials that excess P intake equates to excess P out in the manure.

Environmental Concerns with Phosphorus (P) =


Based on the herds in this project, fecal phosphorus below 0.80% is achievable.

Fecal Phosphorous levels = Lactating dairy cattle exceeding from 0.55 to 0.80% (DM basis) have opportunity for improvement.

Herds implement precision feeding and remove all inorganic phosphorus can maintain these levels. Some contracted farms are observing fecal phosphorus levels over 1.0% (DM basis).

Ruminant trials (sheep, beef and dairy) also conclude that free choice feeding has many limitations and in today’s environment, and there is little to no benefit to this practice for dairy producers. Virginia Ishler, Penn State

Cows allowed access free choice minerals had a greater concentration of P in the feces. Numerous research studies cited (2001 NRC), state that once the cow’s requirement for P is met, excess will be excreted in the feces.

P Consumption to meet Nutrient Regulations Field trial, Okeechobee, Florida, 1986-87

Effect of feeding free choice minerals on P excretion.

Cows received 0.52% P, plus free choice minerals.


Pasture must be rotated, supplements must

be provided, and animals must be observed

on a regular basis.

Pasture

Can be a cost-effective feed

for dry cows and heifers, but

must be managed to ensure

animals meet performance goals.

Potassium and Pastures K in excess of 3%.

(1) remove dry cows from high K pastures during

the last 3 to 4 weeks of pregnancy,

Potential health problems,

specifically milk fever, when

fed during the latter parts of

pregnancy. Alternatives:

(3) dilute the effects of the high-K pastures with

forages and feeds containing lower K levels.

(2) establish pastures with lower K levels

specifically for dry cows (perhaps through

strategic fertilization),


Besides feeding low K forage, feeding a negative DCAD is one of the best tools we have for preventing Hypocalcemia or milk fever.

Dietary Cation-Anion Difference (DCAD) K and N fertilization can greatly impact concentrations of Ca and Mg in grass herbage, impacting DCAD [DCAD = meq (Na + K) - (Cl + a)].

DCAD impacts blood acid-base status directly and predictably.

Both underfeeding and over-feeding and result in reduced intakes and milk production.

S plays an important role in the in the DCAD of up-close dairy cows and has been used extensively to control DCAD.

Sulfur and DCAD

Improving environmental conditions may actually raise a need for more close monitoring of sulfur and other trace minerals in forages.


THE END

forage fertilization - craaq

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