Usefulness of nitrogen application in heavy soils compared to more favourable land in Ireland – utilisation of the Moorepark Grass Growth model

Delaby, Luc; Hennessy, D

Usefulness of nitrogen application in heavy soils compared to more favourable land in Ireland – utilisation of the Moorepark Grass Growth model

2017

Delaby, Luc | Hennessy, D

Ireland’s temperate climate is favourable for grass growth, and efficiently grazed grass is the cheapest feedavailable on most dairy farms. In heavy soils, grass growth conditions and utilisation of grazed grass areless favourable than in free draining soils and will affect the dairy farm performance. The MooreparkGrass Growth model was used to compare the impact of weather, soil type and nitrogen (N) applicationon grass growth, number of grazing events and N leaching. Weather data (from the year 2015) and soilfrom two locations, Moorepark (free draining soil) and Athea (heavy soil), were used. Overall, the soiltype and weather conditions for the heavy soil farm are limitations to grass growth.

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