Effect of rate and time of nitrogen application from autumn to midwinter on perennial ryegrass-white clover dairy pastures in western Victoria. 2. Pasture nutritive value

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at 2 sites to study the effects of time and rate of nitrogen (N) application from autumn to midwinter on the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass-white clover dairy pastures in western Victoria. Nitrogen (0, 15, 25, 30, 45, and 60 kg/ha) was applied in mid-April, early May, mid-May, early June, and mid-June during 1996 onto a pasture which had been grazed and topped to a uniform height of 5 cm prior to imposition of treatments. Pasture samples to a height of 5 cm were collected when perennial ryegrass in the 45 kg N/ha treatment reached the 3-leaf stage of development. Samples were analysed for metabolisable energy (ME), crude protein (CP), neutral deterge..