Below 10°C the cycling of all nutrients, of which nitrogen is one, is slow and the application of any one of them will have little if any immediate effect on the growth of permanent pastures.
The grasses in permanent pastures are bred to grow strongly from 10°C to about 20°C, so again the application of a single nutrient, unless it can be shown to be limiting growth, will have a negligible effect on growth rates during the winter months of June July and August.
The major reason for slow growth at present is low soil temperatures due to fewer direct sunlight hours.
The time when nitrogen fertiliser may markedly increase permanent pasture growth rates is when the lack of plant available nitrogen is the limiting factor, most likely to occur at peak growth times in late September, and October.
At that time in situations where the growth of pasture exceeds animal demand, it could be argued that the requirement for fertiliser nitrogen doesn’t exist and as it is likely to suppress clover growth its value at best is questionable.
Two reasons voiced recently for the application of fertiliser nitrogen in July were that it’s getting closer to calving and lambing and with strong growth not expected until mid-September it feels good to be doing something, and it’s hard not to apply when it appears that everybody else is doing it.
Both understandable and emotionally powerful reasons but when returns from commodity markets are declining and likely to continue declining should costs be incurred without accurate measurable economic benefits.
The farming operations that will continue to thrive on lower market returns are those able to limit or reduce their costs and increase their production.
Three of the requirements for sustained profitability are well structured soils containing all the required major and minor nutrients, healthy well framed animals capable of high production, and feeding regimes that aim to fully feed every animal each day.
On intensive dairy properties the demand for magnesium increases as animals get close to calving and the requirement for calcium increases as milk production lifts.
An application of Golden Bay Dolomite direct to pasture markedly reduces the number and severity of calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorder increasing the likelihood of each animal producing to its potential.
A single application of dolomite lifts plant magnesium levels to between 0.22% and 0.25%, depending on sunlight hours, surprisingly soon after application. It is not unusual to receive reports of a marked decline in calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorders as soon as a fortnight after application.
Because dolomite contains both calcium and magnesium in a ratio close to the requirements of spring growing grasses, calcium levels usually remain at a minimum of 0.60%, sufficient for fully fed animals with well-adjusted rumens to perform at high levels in spring.
Dolomite is an outstanding soil conditioner in its own right and therefore plays a very important role in the necessary recovery of soils from the weight exerted by animal feet particularly in wet conditions.
Dolomite may be applied at any time. There has never been a reported negative response and with this seasons production determined by performance over the next 100 days, now is the ideal time to ask for a price of dolomite delivered to your property.