The response of pastures in Northern Ireland to N, P and K fertilizers and to animal slurries: III. Effects in experiments continued for either two or three years

Abstract

SUMMARY Three factorial experiments made in 1969 on Northern Ireland pastures to measure effects upon yield and mineral content of 0, 180 and 360 kg N, 0, 30 or 60 kg P and 0, 150 or 300 kg K/ha/year, both with and without 1380001 slurry/ha, were continued on the same sites with the same treatments in 1970 and two of them were continued again in 1971. Responses to nitrogen in the second and third seasons were similar to those of the first season. There was no evidence that large nitrogen dressings plus slurry were causing nitrogen to accumulate in the soil. Repeated cutting of herbage given neither fertilizer potassium nor slurry was beginning to reduce both yield and the potassium content of the herbage in the second and third years. Giving fertilizer potassium prevented these losses, but the potassium in the slurries was less effective because it did not maintain the potassium content of the herbage. Reasons for, and implications of this effect are discussed. There was no evidence that soil phosphorus reserves were becoming depleted, when judged by the % P in herbage receiving neither fertilizer nor slurry even after the herbage had been cut and removed for two or three years. As there was no immediate need for fertilizer phosphorus, the P in the slurries, even though slower acting than that in mineral fertilizers, seemed suitable for maintaining the phosphorus status of these pasture soils.