Abstract
In three long-term nitrogen fertilization experiments with total applications of up to 1120 kg N per ha per year and cutting at a DM yield of 2 to 2.5 t per ha, the herbage nitrate content of all-grass swards was studied for each cut. At applications of 60 kg N per ha per cut, with a maximum of 360 kg N per ha per year, there was little or no increase in nitrate content. At applications of 80 kg N per ha per cut, totalling 400–560 kg N per ha per year, 3% of the samples had nitrate contents higher than 0.75% N03. At applications of 120 and 160 kg N per ha per cut, totalling 600–1120 kg N per ha per year, 61 and 67% of the samples exceeded 0.75% N03, respectively. The excess nitrate did not occur in the spring cuts, but for the most part in the summer cuts and seldom in the autumn cuts. This may explained by a positive relationship between temperature and herbage nitrate content, under favourable moisture conditions. In warm but dry periods there was no relationship and nitrate contents were low.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alberda Th (1965) The influence of temperature, light intensity and nitrate concentration on dry-matter production and chemical composition ofLolium perenne L. Neth J Agric Sci 13, 335–360
Bartholomew PW and Chestnutt DMB (1977) The effect of a wide range of fertilizer nitrogen application rates and defoliation intervals on the dry-matter production, seasonal response to nitrogen, persistence and aspects of chemical composition of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv S 24). J Agric Sci Camb 88, 711–721
Behaeghe TJ and Carlier LA (1974) Influence of nitrogen levels on quality and yield of herbage under mowing and grazing conditions. Proc 5th Gen Meet Eur Grassl Fed Uppsala 1973, Växtodling 28, 52–66
Boer DJ den (1980) Nitraatgehaltes in gras en de gezondheid van weidend melkvee bij extreme stikstofbemesting. Stikstof No 95/96, 382–387
Burg PFJ van (1962) Interne stikstofbalans, produktie van droge stof en veroudering van gras. Versl Landbouwk Onderz 68-12, 131 pp
Burg PFJ van (1966) Nitrate as an indicator of the nitrogen-nutrition status of grass. Proc 10th int Grassl Cong Helsinki, 267–272
Burg PFJ van (1970) The seasonal response of grassland herbage to nitrogen. Neth Nitrogen Tech Bull No 8, 59 pp
Coombe NB and Hood AEM (1980) Fertilizer-nitrogen: effects on dairy cow health and performance. Fertilizer Research 1, 157–176
Darwinkel A (1975) Aspects of assimilation and accumulation of nitrate in some cultivated plants. Agric Res Rep 843 Pudoc Wageningen 64 pp
Darwinkel A (1976) Effect of sward age on nitrate accumulation in ryegrass. Neth J Agric Sci 24, 266–273
Darwinkel A (1977) Nitraat in pas ingezaaid en meerjarig gras. Stikstof No 86, 57–62
Deinum B (1966) Climate, nitrogen and grass. Research into the influence of light intensity, temperature, water supply and nitrogen on the production and chemical composition of grass. Meded Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 66-11, 91 pp
Deinum B and Sibma L (1980) Nitrate content of herbage in relation to nitrogen fertilization and management. In Prins WH and Arnold GH eds The role of nitrogen in intensive grassland production. Proc int Symp Eur Grassl Fed Wageningen, 95–102. Pudoc Wageningen
Deijs WB (1961) De bepaling van totale stikstof in gewasmonsters, inclusief nitraatstikstof. Jaarboek IBS, 89–91
Diepen JWM van (1979) Nitraatgehalten in gras en de gezondheid van weidend melkvee bij extreme stikstofbemesting, 1977 en 1978. Versl Landbouwk Bur Ned Stikstofmeststoffenind No D 9
Garstang JR (1981) The long-term effects of the application of different amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer on dry matter yield, sward composition and chemical composition of a permanent grass sward. Expl Husb 37, 117–132
Garwood EA, Salette J and Lemaire G (1980) The influence of water supply to grass on the response to fertilizer nitrogen recovery. In Prins WH and Arnold GH, eds The role of nitrogen in intensive grassland production. Proc int Symp Eur Grassl Fed Wageningen, 59–65. Pudoc Wageningen
George JR, Rhykerd CL, Noller CH, Dillon JE and Burns JC (1973) Effect of N fertilization on dry matter yield, total-N, N recovery and nitrate-N concentration of three cool-season forage grass species. Agron J 65, 211–216
Geurink JH, Malestein A, Kemp A, Korzeniowski A and 't Klooster ATh van (1982) Nitrate poisoning in cattle. 7 Prevention. Neth J Agric Sci 30, 105–113
Hojjati SM, Taylor TH and Templeton WC (1972) Nitrate accumulation in rye, tall fescue and Bermuda grass as affected by nitrogen fertilization. Agron J 64, 624–627
Hylton LO Jr, Williams DE, Ulrich A and Cornelius DR (1964) Critical nitrate levels for growth of Italian ryegrass. Crop Sci 4, 16–19
Leafe EL, Stiles W and Dickinson Sara E (1974) Physiological processes influencing the pattern of productivity of the intensively managed grass sward. Proc 12th int Grassl Cong Moscow 1, 442–457
Luten W, Geurink JH and Woldring JJ (1982) Yield response and nitrate accumulation of herbage by injection of cattle slurry in grassland. Proc 9th Gen Meet Eur Grassl Fed Reading (in press)
Minderhoud JW, Burg PFJ van, Deinum B, Dirven JGP and 't Hart ML (1974) Effects of high levels of nitrogen and adequate utilization on grassland productivity and cattle performance with special reference to permanent pastures in the temperate regions. Proc 12th int Grassl Cong Moscow 1, 99–121
Mulder EG (1949) Onderzoekingen over de stikstofvoeding van landbouwgewassen. I. Proeven met kalkammonsalpeter op grasland. Versl Landbouwk Onderz 55–7, 95 pp
Prins WH (1980) Changes in quantity of mineral nitrogen in three grassland soils as affected by intensity of nitrogen fertilization. Fertilizer Research 1, 51–63
Prins WH and Burg PFJ van (1979) The seasonal response of grassland to nitrogen at different levels of nitrogen pretreatment. 1. Experiments 1972 and 1973. Neth Nitrogen Tech Bull No 11, 45 pp
Prins WH, Burg PFJ van, Rauw GJG and Postmus J (1981) The seasonal response of grassland to nitrogen at different levels of nitrogen pretreatment. 2. Experiment 1974. Neth Nitrogen Tech Bull No 12, 40 pp
Prins WH and Neeteson JH (1982) Grassland productivity as affected by intensity of nitrogen fertilization in preceding years. Neth J Agric Sci 29, 245–258
Prins WH, Rauw GJG and Postmus J (1981) Very high applications of nitrogen fertilizer on grassland and residual effects in the following season. Fertilizer Research 2, 309–327
Schukking S and Keuning JA (1980) Het inkuilen van nitraatrijk gras. Stikstof No 95/96, 368–372
Sibma L and Alberda Th (1980) The effect of cutting frequency and nitrogen fertilizer rates on dry matter production, nitrogen uptake and herbage nitrate content. Neth J Agric Sci 28, 243–251
Whitehead DC (1970) The role of nitrogen in grassland productivity. Bull 48 Commonw Bur Pastures Field Crops Hurley, 202 pp
Wieringa GW, Meer HG van der and Geurink JH (1980) Production and utilization of energy and protein in grass in relation to nitrogen rate, green crop fractionation and dairy feeding systems. In Prins WH and Arnold GH eds The role of nitrogen in intensive grassland production. Proc int Symp Eur Grassl Fed Wageningen, 103–111. Pudoc Wageningen
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research Officer with the Stichting Landbouwkundig Bureau van de Nederlandse Meststoffenindustrie, LBNM (Agricultural Bureau of the Netherlands Fertilizer Industry), seconded to the Institute for Soil Fertility
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prins, W. Effect of a wide range of nitrogen applications on herbage nitrate content in long-term fertilizer trials on all-grass swards. Fertilizer Research 4, 101–113 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049670
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049670