Quantification of slow-release fertilizer on year-round forage production

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2022

Abstract

Overseeding annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.)] into warm-season grass pasture is a common practice producing almost year-round forage for cow–calf operations in the southern United States. Such an approach requires continuous soil nutrient availability throughout the season for consistent forage production. Coated fertilizers marketed as “slow-release” may be an efficient and continuous plant nutrient source. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of fertilization options targeting sustainable nutrient release on year-round dry matter (DM) production. Research was conducted to determine fertilization effects of split application of uncoated inorganic fertilizer, slow-release coated fertilizer, broiler litter, and zero-fertilizer on forage production and nutritive value of annual ryegrass overseeded bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge) pasture. The slow-release coated fertilizer produced more total forage mass (30 Mg ha–1), which was of higher crude protein during spring (≥200 g dry matter [DM] kg–1), than the other treatments (<23 Mg ha–1 and 173 g DM kg–1, P <.05). The broiler litter and split application of uncoated inorganic fertilizer produced similar amounts of forage DM. The N uptake from the slow-release coated fertilizer was higher than the other treatments until mid-summer. Although early spring-applied slow-release fertilizer can enhance total forage production and quality indicators, high cost limits revenue above variable cost of this slow-release fertilizer to levels similar to that of split-applied uncoated inorganic N, with broiler litter providing the more economic supply of N to pastures with long growing seasons.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Agronomy Journal

First Page

3306

Last Page

3316

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