To gain an understanding of the principles of soil science

To assess the nutrient content of soils through soil sampling & analysis

To understand the importance of lime To be aware of nutrient content of animal

manures To be aware of nutrient requirements and

the planning of nutrient management

3

Soil is made up of 3 main mineral components

1.Sand2.Silt3.Clay

Proportion of each determines soil type 12 different soil types/textures

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Sand is gritty and breaks up if rolled into a ball

Silt is smooth, silky or floury

Clay is sticky when wet, shiny when smeared and holds shape

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6

7

Valuable source often overlooked.

Amount of nutrients depends on soil type, rainfall and previous management

How to find out what’s in soil?

− Soil sampling− Soil analysis

Nitrogen (N) – most important for plant growth

Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) –

often referred to as Potash

Others important are Sulphur (S), Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca)

Sample every 4-5 years Ideally October – February

when at least 3 months since application of slurry, manure, fertiliser or lime

Walk a “W” pattern through field

25 cores per sample Send to laboratory for

analysis

1. pH

2. Lime requirement

3. Phosphorus index

4. Potassium index

5. Magnesium index

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Soil Acidity N P K

pH 5.0 (Very Strong acidic) 53% 34% 52%

pH 5.5 (Strongly acidic) 77% 48% 77%

pH 6.0 (medium acidic) 89% 52% 100%

Liming increases the availability of soil nutrients.

Your fertiliser is more efficient if soil pH is at optimum level.

1982 1992 1998 2002 2007 2012

Tonnes of lime spread (000s)

365 137 78 96 73 129

£/tDelivered approx

£12 £15 £17 £20 £22 £23

Conditions the soil Improves the availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Calcium & Magnesium

Encourages micro-organisms in soil which help to release nitrogen from organic matter

Increases earthworm activity

Improves soil structure

Grass is more palatable to livestock (tastier)

Total lime required =

Field area x lime requirement per acre

Exercise – If field 13 is 8 acres in size how much lime is required

=8 x 2.5 = 20 tonnes

Same product just made from finest lime

Fast acting

Can be applied with fertiliser sower

Must be used each year to improve soil pH over time

Typically 100kg/acre

Has its uses but not effective long term

Index Description

0 Deficient

1 OK for extensive

2 Optimum for grazing or silage.

3 High

>4 Excessive

Index Description

0 Deficient

1 Low

2- Optimum for grazing or silage.

2+ High

3 & above Excessive

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31% of samples below index 2 for P

44% of samples below index 2- for K

64% of samples below 6.0 for pH

Only 18% are optimum

Valuable source of nutrients Sample every 4 years Use analysis to determine the

amount of nutrients in the soil The higher the soil nutrient reserves

(Index), the lower the need for additional nutrients

Getting the balance right!

Nutrients In

Nutrients Out

Standard recommendations for Nitrogen

Depends on P index

Depends on K index

Was slurry spread?

kg/ha units/acre

1st cut 120 96

2nd cut 100 80

3rd cut 80 64

* Recommendations are the upper limit of N application

Index

Phosphorus 0 1 2 3 4

Units required

80 56 32 16 0

Index

Potassium 0 1 2- 2+ 3 4

Units required

112* 88** 64 48 24 0

*48 units previous Autumn**24 units previous Autumn

Index

Phosphorus 0 1 2 3 4

Units required

20 20 20 0 0

Index

Potassium 0 1 2- 2+ 3 4

Units required

96 80 72 48 32 0

Standard recommendations for Nitrogen

Depends on P index

Depends on K index

Was slurry spread?

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2.2 billion gallon

Produced in NI each year

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When – 1st February – 15th October in suitable weather & ground conditions

Aim to apply slurry & manure in the same conditions and weather as when applying bagged fertiliser. Leave 3-4 days after applying slurry before applying bagged fertiliser – N loss minimised .

Where – 10m from water course, 20m from lakes, 50m spring, well or borehole & 250m public water supply

Nutrient content of slurry depends on number of factors

1.What were cattle fed (levels & type)2.Dry Matter (DM) of the slurry3.Application method4.Timing of slurry application

Nutrient content of slurry depends on what level of concentrate feeding stock received

Meal contains high levels of P and K so this will come through in slurry

Dry suckler cows receiving no concentrate will produce low value slurry

Bull beef fed straw and high level of concentrate will produce high value slurry

Dry matter of slurry is important!

4% DM slurry will only contain half nutrients of 8% slurry

Watery slurry is lower value

Service available to get slurry tested for DM and nutrient content

221836 4% dry matter

221120 6% dry matter

301127 6% dry matter

K20P205NLivestock Type

* Nitrogen is full content. Not all this is available to the plant (depends on timing).

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Inverted splashplate

Trailing shoe

AFBI Hillsborough Research Results:

Reduced ammonia losses

Better N utilisation

Produces higher grass yields - Trailing Shoe + 24%

- Band Spreading + 16%

Benefits of Alternative Slurry Spreading Systems

More even spread

Give less grass contamination

Slurry spreading up to 4 weeks after cutting

Reduced runoff – trailing shoe compared to splash plate

Can spread within 3m of watercourse rather than 10m

Benefits of Alternative Slurry Spreading Systems

Timing N P K

Available Total Total

Feb - Apr 7.2 11 22

May - July 4.5 11 22

Aug - Oct 3.6 11 22

Every 1000 gallons of a typical beef slurry contains;

7 units (N) Nitrogen 11 units (P) Phosphorus 22 units (K) Potassium

3000 gallons per acre = 21 units N, 33P, 66K

Net worth of 3000 gallons slurry? Approx £41

Getting the balance right!

Nutrients In

Nutrients Out

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1. Soil sample2. Estimate Nitrogen requirements3. What nutrients does the crop require?4. How many nutrients can be supplied by

organic manures?5. Which chemical fertiliser can supply the

remaining nutrients required

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CAN (27-0-0) 34-0-0 (Superstart) 46-0-0 (Urea) 24-6-12 27-4-4 20-10-10 25-0-13 0-46-0 0-0-60

1st Cut silage P index 1 K index 1

2500 gallons beef slurry per acre

How much and what type fertiliser is required?

Index

Phosphorus 0 1 2 3 4

Units required

80 56 32 16 0

Index

Potassium 0 1 2- 2+ 3 4

Units required

112* 88** 64 48 24 0

*48 units previous Autumn**24 units previous Autumn

Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)

Potassium (K)

Required – units per acre

96 52 88

Slurry supplies

17 27 55

Required from fertiliser

79 25 33

Most suitable fertiliser

24 6 12

3 ¼ bags supplies

78 20 39

1st Cut silage P index 2 K index 2-

3000 gallons beef slurry per acre

How much and what type fertiliser is required?

Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)

Potassium (K)

Required – units per acre

96 32 64

Slurry supplies

21 33 66

Required from fertiliser

75 0 0

Most suitable fertiliser

27 0 0

2 ¾ bags supplies

74 0 0