Posts

Dairy pastures

University research supports lower nitrogen rates

Reading Time: 4 minutes

We did not need this research to give us confidence in the principles we advocate for in terms of nitrogen fertiliser management on dairy pastures. But it is encouraging to see other research which confirms what we have been observing.

Tractor Pexels

Everyone is so focussed on methane we forget about nitrous oxide

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The main culprit, of nitrous oxide emissions, in agriculture is the excessive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. Fortunately, that is something farmers can do something about.

Green pasture

Growing pasture with minimal nitrogen fertiliser

Reading Time: 3 minutes

How low have farmers been able to come with nitrogen fertiliser rates, while still maintaining optimal pasture growth?

Cows grazing lucerne pastures

Case study: Improving nitrogen fertiliser efficiency

Reading Time: 8 minutes

I hope this case study encourages farmers who are in the process of adapting their management in order to achieve greater nitrogen fertiliser efficiency.

Tapping into the tons of nitrogen above the soil

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil provide an opportunity for farmers to tap into the huge amounts of nitrogen which are just sitting in the atmosphere, waiting to be unlocked.

Graham Shepherd: Managing nitrogen and carbon to maximise farm performance

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Graham’s keynote presentation, Managing N and C to maximise farm performance, truly resonated with the audience. Many of the farmers in attendance are already in transition towards sustainable farming while others are not quite there yet.

The fate of nitrogen: nitrate-N vs ammonium-N

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Nitrogen is the growth element. Plants need it, no doubt about that. In the first half of a plant’s growth cycle, it takes in about 80% of the total nitrogen it needs for the entire cycle.

The “too much of a good thing” effect of nitrogen

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Nitrogen is a nutrient that is crucial for the optimal growth of plants. Its role in plant health may very well be unparalleled, but what happens when it becomes excessive in the soil? Is it “the more the better”, or rather a case of “too much of a good thing”?