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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139100
Title: EFFECT OF SOIL TYPE AND FERTILIZATION LEVEL ON MINERAL CONCENTRATION OF PASTURE: RELATIONSHIP TO RUMINANT PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH

Author
item Soder, Kathy
item Stout, William

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2003
Publication Date: 6/20/2003
Citation: SODER, K.J., STOUT, W.L. EFFECT OF SOIL TYPE AND FERTILIZATION LEVEL ON MINERAL CONCENTRATION OF PASTURE: POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP TO RUMINANT PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 2003. v. 81, p. 1603-1610.

Interpretive Summary: Meeting the mineral requirements of grazing ruminants is a major challenge in pasture management due to variable factors such as the effects of geographic location, soil type, fertilization type and level, and fertility of the soil on mineral uptake by plants. To assess these factors, the effect of dairy slurry fertilization on mineral uptake by forages was measured using four levels of fertilization on three different soil types. Forage mineral concentrations were then related to the nutrition and metabolic health of the grazing ruminants. The results indicate that mean nutrient concentration in pastures are useful in developing baseline recommendations for fertilization and animal feeding. However, the large variability in mineral concentration based on geographic location, soil type, fertilization type and level, and fertility of the soil emphasize the need for individual analysis. Comprehensive forage testing and ration balancing based on individual farm situations is the best strategy to ensure proper mineral nutrition of grazing animals.

Technical Abstract: A three-year study was conducted to measure the effects of varying levels of dairy slurry application on mineral concentration of forages from three soils types. Slurry was applied to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Pennlate) growing in 60 cm diameter drainage lysimeters to measure the direct impact of four levels of slurry (urine and feces) N application (0, 168, 336, 672 kg N/ha·yr-1) on mineral (N, K, Ca, Mg) concentration of the forage on three soil types (Hagerstown, Hartleton, and Rayne soil types). The results were then related to potential impacts on performance and health of grazing ruminants. Forage P was not affected by slurry application (mean = 0.46% DM). Forage grown on the Harlteton soil had the highest P concentration (0.6% DM). Forage K increased with increased slurry (2.50, 2.85, 3.22, and 3.45% DM, respectively), and was lowest for forage grown on the Rayne soil (2.69% DM). Forage Ca decreased with increased slurry (0.59, 0.56, 0.50, and 0.49% DM, respectively) and was not affected by soil type. Forage Mg also decreased with increased slurry (0.25, 0.24, 0.24, and 0.23% DM, respectively), and was highest for the Harlteton soil (0.27% DM). The variable results in mineral concentration associated with soil type may have, in part, been due to prior soil fertility. The P and Mg levels in all treatments were generally adequate for grazing ruminants. The K levels were high in relation to NRC recommendations for prepartum dairy cows, which may predispose them to milk fever. The Ca levels were inadequate for lactating dairy cows. Comprehensive forage testing and ration balancing based on individual farm situations is the best strategy to ensure proper mineral nutrition of grazing animals.