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Publication Date

1997

Location

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Description

The objective of this study was to estimate the annual input of nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to a grass-clover pasture (Lolium perenne L. - Trifolium repens L.) grazed by dairy cows. The input was estimated by combining measurements of BNF in non-grazed plots, BNF in urine affected plots and estimates of the proportion of the pasture affected by urine. Total BNF in non-grazed plot was 75 and 256 kg N ha-1 in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Urine affected BNF both by decreasing the proportion of clover and by decreasing the proportion of N derived from the atmosphere. The average annual reduction in BNF in the grazed pasture due to animal urination was estimated to 14-21%.

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Biological Nitrogen Fixation in a Grass-Clover Pasture Grazed by Dairy Cows

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

The objective of this study was to estimate the annual input of nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to a grass-clover pasture (Lolium perenne L. - Trifolium repens L.) grazed by dairy cows. The input was estimated by combining measurements of BNF in non-grazed plots, BNF in urine affected plots and estimates of the proportion of the pasture affected by urine. Total BNF in non-grazed plot was 75 and 256 kg N ha-1 in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Urine affected BNF both by decreasing the proportion of clover and by decreasing the proportion of N derived from the atmosphere. The average annual reduction in BNF in the grazed pasture due to animal urination was estimated to 14-21%.