Description

Some 60% of New Zealand dairy farms on allophanic and sedimentary soils have soil Olsen phosphorus (P) levels to 75 mm depth above the target range for near-maximum pasture production of 20-30 µg/ml (Roberts & Morton 1999). For an economic response in milksolids (MS) production from high Olsen P, the pasture needs to be capable of high production, and the extra pasture grown be converted to milk. This paper seeks to justify this contention and outline some of the farm management practices required to achieve it.

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Better Dairy Farm Management Increases the Economic Return From Phosphorus

Some 60% of New Zealand dairy farms on allophanic and sedimentary soils have soil Olsen phosphorus (P) levels to 75 mm depth above the target range for near-maximum pasture production of 20-30 µg/ml (Roberts & Morton 1999). For an economic response in milksolids (MS) production from high Olsen P, the pasture needs to be capable of high production, and the extra pasture grown be converted to milk. This paper seeks to justify this contention and outline some of the farm management practices required to achieve it.