Bahiagrass response and N loss from selected N fertilizer sources |
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| Authors: | M L Silveira J M B Vendramini B Sellers F A Monteiro A G Artur E Dupas |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, FL, USA;2. Soil Science Department, Universidade de Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | The increasing cost of commercial fertilizers and environmental problems associated with improper fertilization management have prompted the need to re‐examine commercial N sources that can effectively supply N to pastures while minimizing N losses. This 3‐year study evaluated the effects of selected N sources on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) responses, soil properties and N losses. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of 6 N sources (i) ammonium nitrate (AN), (ii) ammonium sulphate (AS), (iii) urea (U), (iv) urea treated with Agrotain (U + Agrotain), (v) SuperU and (vi) ammonium sulphate nitrate] and 3 N levels (0, 60 or 120 kg ha?1 year?1), replicated three times. Bahiagrass dry‐matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP) concentration, N uptake and recovery were not affected by N source, with the exception of AN that resulted in reduced DMY in 2010 compared with the other sources. Bahiagrass DMY, CP concentration, N uptake and recovery increased linearly as N levels increased. Nitrogen fertilization showed no effect on soil pH or soil N accumulation. Soil pore‐water N concentrations from treatments fertilized with N were similar to the control plots indicating no threat to the environment. At the N levels evaluated in this study, selection of N source should be based on the fertilizer cost. |
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| Keywords: | crude protein forage nitrate warm‐season grass yield |
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