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Nutrition index and soil nitrate residues in grazed pastures fertilised with mineral fertiliser, pig slurry or cattle compost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

I. Dufrasne ,
S. Meura ,
J. F. Cabaraux ,
L. Istasse  and
J.L. Hornick
I. Dufrasne*
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
S. Meura
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
J. F. Cabaraux
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
L. Istasse
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
J.L. Hornick
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
*
Email:[email protected]
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Extract

A code of good practice was established by each European member state according to the nitrate directive. In Belgium, the nitrogen (N) inputs in pastures from slurry or compost are limited to 210 kg N/ha. Larger quantities can be applied when additional measurements, including soil nitrates analyses are carried on by the farmer. This trial aims to measure nitrogen balance, nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) and soil nitrates contents in pastures fertilised with mineral nitrogen fertiliser, pig slurry or cattle compost, the pastures being grazed by dairy cows and the fertilisation being brought at similar efficient N levels. NNI was calculated as the ratio of the actual N concentration to the sward N concentration it would have to be at a similar biomass in order to sustain a non limiting growth and a biomass accumulation (Lemaire and Gastal, 1997). Cattle compost was produced from cattle manure unloaded through the beaters of a spreader.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2007 , April 2007 , pp. 49
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2007

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References

Farruggia, A., Decau, M.L., Vertès, F., Delaby, L. 1997. En prairie, la balance azotée à l’échelle de la parcelle. Fourrages 151: 281–295.Google Scholar
Lemaire, G., Gastal, F., 1997. N uptake and distribution in plant canopies. In : Lemaire, G. (ed.) Diagnosis of the nitrogen status in crops, 3–43, Heidelberg, Germany : Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar