Abstract
Field experiments were conducted from 1988 to 1991 or 1992 at two sites (Lacombe-Black Chernozem and Eckville-Gray Luvisol) in central Alberta, Canada to determine the effect of rate (0 to 300 kg N ha−1), source [urea and ammonium nitrate (AN)] and time (early fall, late fall, early winter, early spring and late spring) of N application on dry matter yield (DMY), protein yield (PY), protein concentration (PC), N-use efficiency (NUE), % N recovery (% NR) and nitrate-N (NO3−N) concentration in meadow bromegrass (Bromus bibersteinii Roem and Shult. cv. Regar). The DMY, PY and PC increased with increasing applied N, but the NUE and % NR decreased at high N rates. The increases in PY from fertilizer N were proportionately greater than DMY due to increase in PC at high N rates. Potentially toxic NO3−N levels (>2.3 g kg−1) were not found in the forage. Urea generally produced lower DMY, PY, PC, NUE and % NR than AN, regardless of time of application and cut. Early spring application had the highest and early winter application had the lowest DMY and PY. In conclusion, urea was less effective than AN as a forage fertilizer and early spring application was most effective.
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Malhi, S.S. Rate, source and time of N application for meadow bromegrass in central Alberta, Canada. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 46, 241–247 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420559
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420559