Offered Papers Theme C: Delivering the Benefits from Grassland
Description
The Australian dairy industry is largely based on a grazed pasture system, although most cows also consume substantial amounts of imported feed (Fulkerson & Doyle 2001). This trend is expected to increase as the Australian dairy industry continues to intensify. Fertiliser inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are still viewed as necessary to maintain adequate pasture and milk production despite the fact that most dairy farms are in net positive balance for all of these nutrients (Reuter 2001). Nutrient losses from dairy farming regions and eutrophication of waterways has gained strong public and political attention and intensive pasture systems are no longer seen as 'clean and green'. An important aspect of a viable dairy industry in the future will be more refined nutrient management planning.
Citation
Gourley, C. J. P.; Awty, I.; Durling, P. A.; Collins, J.; Melland, A.; and Aarons, S. R., "Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems in Southeastern Australia" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 59.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeC/59
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems in Southeastern Australia
The Australian dairy industry is largely based on a grazed pasture system, although most cows also consume substantial amounts of imported feed (Fulkerson & Doyle 2001). This trend is expected to increase as the Australian dairy industry continues to intensify. Fertiliser inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are still viewed as necessary to maintain adequate pasture and milk production despite the fact that most dairy farms are in net positive balance for all of these nutrients (Reuter 2001). Nutrient losses from dairy farming regions and eutrophication of waterways has gained strong public and political attention and intensive pasture systems are no longer seen as 'clean and green'. An important aspect of a viable dairy industry in the future will be more refined nutrient management planning.
