Plant Soil Environ., 2014, 60(7):303-308 | DOI: 10.17221/114/2014-PSE

Fertilizer application (P, K, S, Ca and Mg) on pasture in calcareous dehesas: effects on herbage yield, botanical composition and nutritive valueOriginal Paper

O. Santamaría, S. Rodrigo, M.J. Poblaciones, L. Olea
Department of Agronomy and Forest Environment Engineering, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of P, Ca, S, and/or K and/or Mg application at different rates on the botanical composition, herbage yield and its nutritive value in dehesas developed on calcareous soils. In two growing seasons, 2009/10 and 2010/11, five surface-broadcast fertiliser treatments were applied once in autumn. Two grazing periods were simulated by cutting the pasture in mid-spring and late-spring. Treatment K1, with the highest amount of Ca and without K in its composition, provided higher crude protein values in the herbage than controls in 2009/10. When the effect of each nutrient was analysed separately, a strong and highly positive response of Mg application on herbage production was recorded. A surface application of fertilisers containing 25 kg Mg/ha in autumn could increase herbage yield by 40% under the studied conditions. However, Mg was not applied alone, and thus this increase could be due to an effect of Mg by itself or to a synergistic effect between Mg and other nutrients applied. The application of Ca, P and Mg may also favour the production of high-quality forage by yielding a greater cover of legumes and digestible protein.

Keywords: permanent grassland; forage; magnesium; crude protein; legumes

Published: July 31, 2014  Show citation

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Santamaría O, Rodrigo S, Poblaciones MJ, Olea L. Fertilizer application (P, K, S, Ca and Mg) on pasture in calcareous dehesas: effects on herbage yield, botanical composition and nutritive value. Plant Soil Environ. 2014;60(7):303-308. doi: 10.17221/114/2014-PSE.
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