Reducing winter nitrogen loss
Bala Tikkisetty
With the coldest months of the year just around the corner, it’s important to bear in mind that farmers should be
particularly cautious when applying nitrogen fertilisers to pasture or crops during winter.
Winter applications of nitrogen fertilisers are generally least effective for promoting grass growth. That’s because
slow growth of pasture in winter and greater drainage can result in nitrate leaching directly from fertiliser before
plants can take it up. The nitrogen can make its way to waterways where it can stimulate nuisance algal growth.
Also, milking cows will excrete, in urine, about 70 per cent of the nitrogen they consume. Again, the risk of this
nitrogen leaching from urine patches is much higher in winter.
This nitrogen leaching, along with phosphorus runoff can not only contaminate the water bodies but are a loss of
economically valuable nutrients.
Some of the research to mitigate nitrogen losses has focussed on:
growing pasture with more rooting depth for interception of nitrate
reducing the amount of time animals spend on pasture
feeding high sugar grasses to reduce the amount of nitrogen lost in urine.
Getting clear advice about the risks involved with winter nitrogen applications on individual properties is a good idea.
Nutrient budgeting using computer models such as Overseer, combined with feed budgeting, enables farmers to understand
whether they are using too much or too little fertiliser. By doing this farmers can optimise the use of nutrients and
reduce the impact on the environment by working out a pragmatic nutrient management plan.
Understanding the term “response rate” helps farmers when it comes to implementing these plans.
The response rate is the amount of pasture grown in terms of kilograms of dry matter per hectare per kilogram of
nitrogen (N) applied. For example, when 20 kg N/ha is applied and an additional 200 kg DM/ha of pasture is grown the
response rate is 10 kg DM/kg N applied. The response is dependent on several factors such as soil temperature, plant
growth, soil moisture, the deficiency of available nitrogen in the soil and the rate of nitrogen applied per
application.
The best response to N fertiliser occurs on fast growing pasture, when other factors such as moisture and soil
temperature are not limiting growth. Response rate variation also depends on the season and on nitrogen application
rate. In winter, at the same application rate, responses are lower and slower than other times of the year. The response
rate also declines when the application rate (single dose) is higher than 40 kg N/ha.
It is better to apply nitrogenous fertiliser when the pasture cover is between 1,500 to 1,800 kg DM/ha. This ensures
that there is sufficient leaf area for photosynthesis leading to good pasture growth.
Also, nitrogen fertiliser reduces nitrogen fixation by clover by about one kg N/ha/year for every three kg nitrogen
fertiliser applied. In addition, clover content will be further reduced if nitrogen boosted pastures shade the clover.
This effect is seen during spring.
Remember, too, that the profitability of applying nitrogen is dependent on the utilisation of the extra feed. Therefore,
nitrogen needs to be strategically applied to fill genuine feed deficits.
Nitrogen conversion efficiency for any farm is another key point to be remembered. This is measured by calculating total
nitrogen in product divided by the total nitrogen inputs into a farm and is expressed as a percentage. A dairy farm, for
example, is probably doing fine with about 40 per cent.
A number of farmers I know, as well as industry organisations, are already doing a great job of trying to increase
productivity and reduce environmental impacts through more careful use of nutrients. The more we can all share
information on the best way to do these things the better.
ends