White clover or nitrogen fertiliser for dairying?

Authors

  • D.A. Clark
  • S.L. Harris

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.6.1995.3348

Abstract

Annual production in New Zealand dairy pastures is limited by nitrogen supply and therefore requires nitrogen fertiliser to increase annual pasture production. This paper summarises the advantages and disadvantages of clover nitrogen and fertiliser nitrogen including the effects of both nitrogen sources on feed quantity and quality, factors limiting nitrogen fixation and nitrogen fertiliser response, defoliation effects on white clover (Trifolium repens L.), animal health problems associated with clover and nitrogen fertiliser, and environmental effects. UDDER, a dairy farm simulation model, is used to predict the nitrogen fertiliser rate and white clover content in pasture necessary for optimum pasture production and feed quality. Maximum gross margins per ha and a high level of milksolids production per ha and per cow can be best achieved by combining nitrogen inputs from white clover and nitrogen fertiliser. The model predicts best results would be achieved with clover contents of 30-40% and nitrogen fertiliser rates of 100-200kgN/ha/yr. Keywords: dairying, feed quality, nitrogen fertiliser, nitrogen fixation, Trifolium repens

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Published

1996-01-01

How to Cite

Clark, D., & Harris, S. (1996). White clover or nitrogen fertiliser for dairying?. NZGA: Research and Practice Series, 6, 107–114. https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.6.1995.3348

Issue

Vol. 6 (1995): White Clover: NZ's Competitive Edge

Section

Past volumes

License

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Rights granted to the New Zealand Grassland Association through this agreement are non-exclusive. You are free to publish the work(s) elsewhere and no ownership is assumed by the NZGA when storing or curating an electronic version of the work(s). The author(s) will receive no monetary return from the Association for the use of material contained in the manuscript. If I am one of several co-authors, I hereby confirm that I am authorized by my co-authors to grant this Licence as their agent on their behalf. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the rights to supply the article in electronic and online forms and systems.