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The response of Italian ryegrass to nitrogenous fertilizer at different times of year, with particular reference to residual effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Wilman  and
B. M. Ojuederie
D. Wilman
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
B. M. Ojuederie
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Summary

The 32 combinations of applying or not applying nitrogenous fertilizer on five dates, with 6-week intervals between dates, during one treatment year were compared in three field experiments with Italian ryegrass (Lolium mvltiflorum). Phosphorus (P)and potassium (K) were applied at a uniform, high rate to all plots. All plots were harvested, by cutting, five times during the treatment year and once in May of the subsequent year.

Dry-matter yields and dry-matter yield responses to N were lower at the September and October harvests than at the May, June and July harvests. Where no N was applied 6 weeks before a harvest, N applied 12 weeks before that harvest generally increased yields of dry matter, N, P and K. On the other hand, where N was applied 6 weeks before a harvest, N applied 12 weeks before that harvest tended not to increase dry-matter yield and tended to reduce P and K yields. Applying 420 kg N/ha/year compared with nil approximately trebled the amounts of dry matter, P and K harvested in the treatment year. At the May harvest in the subsequent year dry-matter yield was increased by N applied in the treatment year, for all five application dates, although the previous autumn there had been no positive residual effect of the early applications. Apparent recovery of N was low compared with that recorded with Italian ryegrass in Cambridge. The content of N, as well as P and K, in herbage in May was reduced by the application of N the previous year. In the 1972 experiment the proportion of ‘stem’ in the harvested produce was markedly increased by N application. The size of this effect may have been associated with the rather small amount of soil N available. Applied N increased the number of tillers in the sward, but this effect appeared to be rather short-lived. A major reason for the positive effect of applied N on dry-matter yield, including the positive residual effect, appeared to be the increase in leaf blade length and probably sheath length due to N.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 90 , Issue 3 , June 1978 , pp. 479 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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