EFFECTS OF LIQUID AND LOW ANALYSIS FERTILISERS ON PASTURE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Abstract

The effects on pasture production of 4 liquid fertilisers, Maxicrop, N-Fix, Response and Plant Plasma and two proprietary solid fertilisers Naturmix and Wright's Mix were examined in a series of 3 trials over a *-year period near the Ruakura Agriculture Centre. None of the liquid materials significantly affected total pasture production over the trial periods This is consistent with international summaries of trials with seaweed and fish extracts which concluded that such materials have no consistent effect of practical benefit on pasture and crop production. Plant Plasma applied at 10 times the recommended rate, boosted pasture production in the first harvest after each application, as did Plant Plasma at the normal rate after one of the applications. The proprietary fertilisers performed as could be predicted from their nutrient contents. In a grazing trial near Te Kuiti. Response Extra* had no significant effects on any of 8 measures of animal performance, or on pasture production in that trial or in an associated small-plot trial. None of the liquid or proprietary solid fertilisers applied at recommended rates, had consistent effects on pasture botanical and chemical composition or soil test levels. Keywords: seaweed extracts fish extracts, low analysis fertilisers, pasture production, animal production