fertilizer sources on bermudagrass pastures for stocker grazing
DESCRIPTION
FERTILIZER SOURCES ON BERMUDAGRASS PASTURES FOR STOCKER GRAZING. Hill Farm Research Station, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness, and Southeast Research Station. S. M. DeRouen, J. M. Gillespie, and J. D. Ward. Objective of the Study. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
04/22/23
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
04/22/23
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
$/H
EAD
BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45
04/22/23
6
NET RETURN/LOSS
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
4019
99
2000
Year$/
HE
AD
BL-2+2BL-4CF-30CF-45
04/22/23
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.
