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Conference paper2024Peer reviewed

Split nitrogen application in spring to timothy-meadow fescue leys

Nadeau, Elisabet; Von Essen, Andrea; Bakken, A.K.

Abstract

Climate change with fluctuations in weather patterns, environmental concerns, and increased costs of mineral fertilizers all demand adjustment of nitrogen (N) used for forage production. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of splitting N application in spring on dry-matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) content and protein quality of timothy-meadow fescue leys. The trial was conducted during two years at three locations (Kvithamar and Særheim, Norway and Länghem, Sweden). Split N application with 60 kg N ha–1 at onset of grass growth in April and 50 kg N ha–1 in May resulted in the same DM yields and CP concentrations as a single application of 110 kg N ha–1 in April in Kvithamar the first year and Særheim both years. In Länghem both years and for Kvithamar in the second year, a late application two weeks before first cut gave less DM yield than the single full application in April. Split application did not affect the contents of nonprotein N or nitrate.

Keywords

Festuca pratensis; maturity at harvest; N application strategy; Phleum pratense L.; protein; yield

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2024, number: 29, pages: 575-577 Title: Why grasslands? : Proceedings of the 30th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation Leeuwarden, the Netherlands 9-13 June 2024
eISBN: 978-90-903-8494-8Publisher: Brill

Conference

30th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation Leeuwarden (EGF 2024), 9-13 June 2024, The Netherlands