Abstract

Slurry injection into grassland has advantages as it decreases ammonia losses, but may harm grassland plants. In two field experiments, four different types of knife/tine equipment were tested on three different grassland species (monocultures of red clover, perennial ryegrass and red fescue), with or without added mineral nitrogen (N), but without slurry application. During 2years, in two separate experiments, the injection treatments were applied in spring or in summer to different plots. Crop damage was assessed by a range of methods. It was concluded that both the timing and the design of the knife/injector equipment had a significant influence on yield when used in grassland, with the greatest decrease in yield after spring use. Mean total yield over 2years (no treatment=100) for timing and species, with N added, was 94 (vertical knife), 92 (vertical and horizontal knife), 96 (double disc tine) and 94 (tubulator tine). With no N added, the relative yield decrease caused by equipment was less. Red fescue seemed to be a little more sensitive than the other species at spring treatment in one of the 2years. Leaf area index could be useful for measuring crop damage.

Keywords

slurry injection; crop damage; N fertilizer; perennial ryegrass; red fescue; red clover; yield

Published in

Grass and Forage Science
2015, Volume: 70, number: 2, pages: 255-267
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU Authors

• Halling, Magnus

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12106

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/76005