Publication Date
1989
Description
Under subartic conditions natural pastures and rangelands are not very productive and are often vulnerable to erosion when overgrazed. The grazing season is also very short, often only four to five months, during which time the lambs have to reach slaughter weight. It is therefore critical to increase carrying capacity and production of the land. Several studies have tested fertilizer use to increase plant production under these condition (e.g., Thorsteinsson and Sigurbjornsson, 1961 ; Arnalds 1974; Arnalds et al. 1980). However, while these studies have shown a manifold increase in forage production and a shift in plant composition to a dominance of grasses, there is a dearth of information on the effects of fertilizer application on livestock production. The present paper describes a series of experiments designed to determine the effect of compound fertilizer (N and P) application on lamb production and stocking rate on natural pastures or rangelands at four different locations under subarctic conditions in Iceland.
Citation
Gudmundsson, Olafur, "The Performance of Sucking Lambs Grazing Unfertilized an Fertilized Natural Pasture and Rangeland Under Subarctic Conditions" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 76.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session10/76
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Performance of Sucking Lambs Grazing Unfertilized an Fertilized Natural Pasture and Rangeland Under Subarctic Conditions
Under subartic conditions natural pastures and rangelands are not very productive and are often vulnerable to erosion when overgrazed. The grazing season is also very short, often only four to five months, during which time the lambs have to reach slaughter weight. It is therefore critical to increase carrying capacity and production of the land. Several studies have tested fertilizer use to increase plant production under these condition (e.g., Thorsteinsson and Sigurbjornsson, 1961 ; Arnalds 1974; Arnalds et al. 1980). However, while these studies have shown a manifold increase in forage production and a shift in plant composition to a dominance of grasses, there is a dearth of information on the effects of fertilizer application on livestock production. The present paper describes a series of experiments designed to determine the effect of compound fertilizer (N and P) application on lamb production and stocking rate on natural pastures or rangelands at four different locations under subarctic conditions in Iceland.
