Fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur effects on forage yield and quality of timothy hay in the Parkland Region of Saskatchewan, Canada
2004
Malhi, S.S. | Loeppky, H. | Coulman, B. | Gill, K.S. | Curry, P. | Plews, T.
For producers in the Parkland zone of Canadian prairies, timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay provides another opportunity for crop diversification and there is potential for an increase in the production area. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of nitrogen (N) (0 to 200 kg N ha(-1)), phosphorus (P) (0 to 87.5 kg P ha(-1)), potassium (K) (0 to 62.5 kg K ha(-1)), and sulphur (S) (0 to 40 kg S ha(-1)) fertilization rates on forage dry matter yield (DMY) and quality of timothy (cv. Drummond) grown for hay under dryland conditions. Forage quality measurements included percentage of leaf, stem and head, head length, protein content (PC), neutral detergent fiber content (NDF), and acid detergent fiber content (ADF). The field experiments were conducted at Buchanan, Saltcoats, Carrot River, and Star City in the Parkland zone of Saskatchewan, Canada. The fertilizer sources were ammonium nitrate for N, triple super phosphate for P, muriate of potash for K, and potassium sulphate for S. The fertilizers were surface-broadcast annually in mid to late April. The application of N at the three sites (Buchanan, Saltcoats, and Star City) markedly increased DMY, usually increased the percentage of leaf and head, head length and PC, reduced the percentage of stem and had no consistent effect on NDF and ADF. The DMY increased moderately with P and K application at Carrot River, and with S application at Star City. The percentage of leaf, stem and head, head length, PC, NDF, and ADF showed no response to P, K, or S fertilizer applications. In summary, the application of N at Buchanan and Saltcoats, P and K at Carrot River, and N and S at Star City were considered essential for optimum forage yield and quality of timothy.
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