Pasture Trials

67 trials nationwide have been conducted on a mixture of dryland and irrigated clover based pasture, making it the largest nitrogen response study on pasture in New Zealand since 1981.

The trial periods ranged from 15 to 187 days with the average length of most trials being 25 days.

Over 100,000 individual pasture measurements were taken. Of the trials conducted, seven trials did not show a nitrogen response to urea application,
seven were not conducted in accordance with Donaghys recommendations (i.e. off-label) and another seven did not include a treatment with 40kg/ha of urea.

extended pasture trials

Nine extended trials were conducted past one grazing round (average of 49 days) to assess the residual effect of N-Boost®. Five of these trials were independent and four were in-house.

ONE TRIAL WAS ALSO CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT AN ENTIRE MILKING SEASON (SEVEN GRAZING ROTATIONS)

Treatments were reapplied before grazing three and grazing six. Using 120kgs less urea, the N Boost® treatment grew similar amounts of pasture to the 80kg spread urea treatment.

variability of nitrogen fertiliser response

Applying urea alone will have variable results on pasture response due to external factors such as soil temperature, moisture and existing soil nitrogen.

Using the N-Boost® System will also have variable results on pasture response but trial results show that the N-Boost® System will still double the pasture response to 40kg of urea per hectare.

* Nitrogen Fertiliser Trial Database: A Valuable Resource. Climatic Factors and First Cut Response to Nitrogen Application. In: Nutrient management in a rapidly changing world. (Eds L.D. Currie & C.L. Lindsay), pp. 191-204. Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ.

UREA AND THE N-BOOST® SYSTEM HAVE SIMILAR VARIABILITY

Using the N-Boost® System will also have variable results on pasture response but trial results show that the N-Boost® System will still double the pasture response to 40kg of urea per hectare.

N-Boost® should only be used when a nitrogen response can be expected. Soil temperatures must be 10°C or above. Ensure sufficient pasture cover for optimum foliar uptake (1400-1600kg DM/ha). For best results apply the N-Boost® System 3-5 days after grazing. Sufficient soil moisture content is required for pasture to respond. Avoid application in very hot or windy conditions or within 6 hours of impending heavy rain.

Pasture Trial Results

Season

Region

Land

Name	Season	Irrigation	Days	Urea 40	Urea 80	N-Boost 40	View PDF
Average Nitrogen Response Rates				0	0	0
Donaghys Ashburton	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	24	11	18	26	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Burnham	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	16	20	16	30	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Castlerock	Spring 08	Dry land	26	5	10	21	Southland	View File
Donaghys Clinton	Autumn 10	Dry land	40	1	7	16	Otago	View File
Donaghys Culverden	Summer 08-09	Irrigated	24	8	12	30	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Culverden 2	Autumn 09	Irrigated	34	-2	12	19	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Darfield	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	26	10	13	18	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Dargaville	Autumn 09	Dry land	20	12	10	17	Northland	View File
Donaghys Dunsandel	Summer 08-09	Irrigated	25	10	15	26	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Dunsandel 2	Autumn 09	Irrigated	29	7	7	14	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Dunsandel 3	Autumn 09	Irrigated	22	4	8	17	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Dunsandel 4	Autumn 09	Irrigated	24	8	8	15	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Eyrewell	Spring 08	Irrigated	23	3	9	19	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Foxton	Spring 08	Dry land	26	12	17	34	Manawatu Wanganui	View File
Donaghys Irwell	Spring 08	Irrigated	21	5	9	17	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Kaitaia	Spring 08	Irrigated	23	12	19	39	Northland	View File
Donaghys Lake Taupo 1	Autumn 09	Dry land	26	2	7	15	Waikato	View File
Donaghys Lake Taupo 2	Autumn 09	Dry land	26	9	9	25	Waikato	View File
Donaghys Leeston	Autumn 10	Irrigated	25	20	7	24	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys New Plymouth	Spring 08	Dry land	23	8	16	36	Taranaki	View File
Donaghys Nth Canterbury	Summer 08-09	Irrigated	47	20	7	30	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Oxford	Spring 08	Irrigated	21	11	16	29	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Rakaia	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	35	30	37	63	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Rakaia	Spring 08	Irrigated	20	9	13	25	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Ranfurly	Autumn 10	Irrigated	42	9	10	23	Otago	View File
Donaghys Rangiora	Spring 08	Irrigated	23	7	16	28	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Riversdale	Spring 08	Dry land	25	10	10	29	Southland	View File
Donaghys Rolleston	Autumn 09	Irrigated	26	8	14	29	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Tai Tapu	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	21	18	23	50	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Tauranga	Spring 08	Dry land	25	1	7	14	Bay Of Plenty	View File
Donaghys Temuka	Spring 08	Irrigated	15	6	8	14	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Waitaki	Autumn 09	Irrigated	29	12	9	18	Otago	View File
Donaghys West Coast 1	Summer 08-09	Dry land	22	3	8	14	West Coast	View File
Donaghys West Coast 2	Summer 08-09	Dry land	23	8	6	14	West Coast	View File
Donaghys West Coast 3	Summer 08-09	Dry land	23	2	9	21	West Coast	View File
Donaghys West Eyrton	Spring 08	Irrigated	22	7	12	23	Canterbury	View File
Donaghys Whangarei	Autumn 09	Dry land	18	8	10	22	Northland	View File
Independent Aylesbury 1	Autumn 07	Irrigated	21		7	27	Canterbury	View File
Independent Aylesbury 2	Autumn 07	Irrigated	21		6	24	Canterbury	View File
Independent Bankside	Summer 10-11	Irrigated	24	25	15	30	Canterbury	View File
Independent Cambridge	Summer 10-11	Dry land	21	6	7	19	Waikato	View File
Independent Darfield 1	Autumn 07	Dry land	21		24	19	Canterbury	View File
Independent Darfield 2	Autumn 07	Dry land	21		11	24	Canterbury	View File
Independent Dunsandel	Summer 10-11	Irrigated	25	8	14	21	Canterbury	View File
Independent Greenpark	Summer 10-11	Dry land	26	11	13	22	Canterbury	View File
Independent Ohaupo	Summer 10-11	Dry land	24	13	8	14	Waikato	View File
Independent Pendarves	Summer 10-11	Irrigated	21	14	10	26	Canterbury	View File
Independent Rakaia	Summer 07-08	Irrigated	18	6	7	17	Canterbury	View File
Independent Springfield	Autumn 07	Dry land	21		17	33	Canterbury	View File
Independent Springston	Summer 10-11	Irrigated	24	17	17	30	Canterbury	View File
Independent Tai Tapu	Summer 10-11	Irrigated	27	14	12	31	Canterbury	View File
Independent Waikato	Spring 07	Dry land	28		17	22	Waikato	View File
Independent Woodend	Autumn 07	Irrigated	21		9	19	Canterbury	View File
Average Nitrogen Response Rates				0	0	0