fertilizer sources on bermudagrass pastures for stocker grazing

04/22/23

FERTILIZER SOURCES ON FERTILIZER SOURCES ON BERMUDAGRASS PASTURES BERMUDAGRASS PASTURES

FOR STOCKER GRAZINGFOR STOCKER GRAZINGS. M. DeRouen, J. M. Gillespie, and J. D. Ward

Hill Farm Research Station, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness, and Southeast Research Station

04/22/23

Objective of the StudyDetermine effects of broiler litter

and commercial fertilizer applied to bermudagrass pastures on:

1) animal performance2) economic implications

04/22/23

Experimental Procedures Two-year study - conducted in 1999 and

2000

156 Angus-sired fall-born weaned crossbred calves were used:– 84 head in 1999; 72 head in 2000

Stocking rate: 3.5 hd/acre in 1999; 3.0 hd/acre in 2000

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Experimental Procedures(Continued)

121-day trial in 1999; 112-day trial in 2000

Eight pastures were used; pasture was experimental unit

Monthly rising plate meter readings and forage clippings obtained

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Fertilizer Sources (Treatments) Evaluated

BL-2+2BL-2+2 - 2 tons/acre applied in early April & late June

BL-4BL-4 - 4 tons/acre applied in early April & 50 lb/acre N applied in early July

CF-30CF-30 -250lb/acre of 17-17-17 (N-P-K) applied in mid-April, mid-May, & mid-June, & 50lb/acre of N applied in early July

CF-45CF-45 -250lb/acre of 17-17-17 (N-P-K) applied in mid-April, late May, & early July

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF N-P-K BY FERTILIZER SOURCE

YR-1999 LB. N LB. P LB. K

BL-2+2 106 308 235

BL-4 141 293 219

CF-30 179 128 128

CF-45 128 128 128

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF N-P-K BY FERTILIZER SOURCE

YR-2000 LB. N LB. P LB. K

BL-2+2 128 356 275

BL-4 162 333 266

CF-30 179 128 128

CF-45 128 128 128

RELATIVE FORAGE AVAILABILITY-YR 1999

0102030405060708090

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

EastWestNorth

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

APR MAY JUN JUL AUGMONTH

RPM

REA

DIN

G

BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45

RELATIVE FORAGE AVAILABILITY-YR 2000

0102030405060708090

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

EastWestNorth

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

APR MAY JUN JUL AUGMONTH

RPM

REA

DIN

G

BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45

6

WEIGHT GAIN PERFORMANCE

0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

1.8

1999 2000Year

ADG

, lb

BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45

6

FERTILIZER COSTS

05

10152025303540

1999 2000Year

$/H

EAD

BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45

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6

NET RETURN/LOSS

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

4019

99

2000

Year$/

HE

AD

BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45

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CONCLUSIONS Similar weight gains for stockers were observed

among pastures fertilized with either broiler litter or commercial fertilizer.

Fertilizer costs were reduced by 37 to 41 % with the use of broiler litter compared to commercial fertilizer.

At net economic loss resulted in 1999 by retaining calves and stockering over the summer, whereas, in 2000, a net economic return resulted except for one commercial fertilizer source.