Effluent and nitrogen fertiliser effects on dry matter yield, nutritive characteristics, and mineral and nitrate content of turnips

Abstract

The 2-pond system to treat and contain dairy effluent is commonplace on dry-land dairy farms in southern Australia. The first pond is a deep anaerobic treatment pond and the second a shallow aerobic pond where the liquid effluent is stored. This liquid effluent contains a range of nutrients that have the potential to influence forage dry matter (DM) yields, herbage nutritive characteristics, and mineral content of forages. The effect of applying second-pond dairy effluent to a summer turnip (Brassica rapa L.) crop over two consecutive summer periods was measured. In addition to the application of effluent, N fertiliser was also applied. Effluent was applied at three rates, 0, 30, and 60:mm ∼..