The effect of phosphate and potash fertilizers on cut and grazed grassland

Abstract

SUMMARY: An experiment was carried out over a 5-year period on a grass/clover sward at North Wyke to compare three methods of experimental management—individually grazed plots, communally grazed plots and cutting with removal of herbage. Responses to phosphate and potash fertilizers under each management were measured.P fertilizer increased grass yields in the first 4 years and decreased clover yields in the last 2. In almost all respects cut and grazed sward responded similarly to P. Fertilizer K had no effect on grass yield but markedly increased clover yield and raised herbage K content. Grazed swards developed a higher herbage K content than cut swards, and K fertilizer increased it more in the fourth and fifth years on the individually grazed than on the communally grazed plots. Thus communal grazing resulted in appreciable transfer of K from plot to plot in animal returns.It is concluded that whilst cutting management may be used for short-term experiments, its use in long-term experiments gives different results from grazing. Communal grazing can lead to the transfer of N and K effects from plot to plot, so that plots must be grazed individually except perhaps where P is the only variable nutrient.