Grassland nutritional summary
Macronutrient uptake by grassland
Nitrogen is the crucial nutrient for influencing grassland yield. Requirements for potassium, phosphate, sulphur, calcium, and magnesium are related to the amount of applied nitrogen. There is a large demand for these macronutrients during early spring growth and to avoid limiting yield it is critical that sufficient quantities of nutrients are available for uptake when required by the plant. The nutrient uptake and offtake from grassland depends on the intensity of production and whether it is mowed or grazed.
This table shows how the macronutrient offtake per tonne dry matter varies with yield and depending on whether it is grazed or mown.
Micronutrient uptake by grassland
A balanced crop nutrition strategy is essential and although much lower amounts are needed the correct balance of micronutrients should be available since these are essential elements for achieving high yields. The most important micronutrient on grassland yield are copper, manganese and zinc.
Other micronutrients which are not essential for grass but are required by grazing animals include sodium and selenium and also copper and zinc are required in higher levels in animals than are required for grass growth.
This table based on studies in the UK shows the wide variation in micronutrient uptake per ha depending on the management system.
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