With the closed period for spreading organic manures having come to an end, attention is now turning to this year’s growing season and planning nutrient applications. Optimising nutrient use efficiency is the key to success in this regard and was the focus of a webinar hosted this week by CAFRE and AFBI in conjunction with Agrisearch and supported by the Rising Cost Taskforce, which the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association is part of.
Growing more, and better quality, grass ultimately starts with paying closer attention to soil health. A holistic approach focusing on the physical, biological, and chemical needs of the soil will ensure that the nutrients supplied are available for uptake and can be properly utilised. This involves addressing any compaction or drainage issues as well as assessing the pH and nutrient status of the soil via soil testing.
Soil pH is critical because it determines the availability of most nutrients. It is therefore alarming that an estimated 64% of soils in Northern Ireland are below the optimum soil pH of 6. This means that a significant proportion of the nutrients applied by organic manures or chemical fertilisers can be underutilised by the soil. As such, applying lime to correct soil pH is essential and one of the best investments a farm can make.
Investing the time and effort in developing a farm nutrient management plan is a worthwhile exercise. By matching the nutrient inputs from organic manures and fertilisers to crop demand, informed by soil analysis results, this helps to optimise the use of nutrients. Not only should this benefit grass yield and quality, it should also help to reduce costs by avoiding wastage and lessening the risk of losses to the environment through nutrient leaching and run off as well as volatilisation into the atmosphere in the form of greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions. It is therefore a win-win economically and environmentally.
Getting to grips with nutrient use efficiency may seem like a daunting task, but help is available. Professional advice can be invaluable and is something the NIGTA membership has in abundance though FAR qualified feed advisers, agronomists and fertiliser reps.
