Does precision N-fertilizer application in grassland make sense?

J. Oenema, G.J. Noij, P. van der Vlugt, C. Kempenaar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperAcademic

Abstract

Productive grassland is under pressure worldwide due to environmental, ecological and economic conditions. This study aims to increase N-use efficiency of grassland with variable rate application (VRA) of fertilizer. We compared a VRA strategy with equal spatial distribution of N fertilizer. A two-year trial was conducted on a sandy soil in the Netherlands. In the first year (2019), the spatial variability of the N yield without N fertilization (YN0) and the maximum N yield at high N fertilization (294 kg ha–1) (YNmax) was assessed. N recovery ranged from 32 to 64%. In the second year (2020), a VRA strategy was tested, based on the results from 2019. Neither average yields (dry matter and N) nor average N-use efficiency were higher with VRA compared to equal N distribution. However, with VRA, a more equal distribution of N use efficiency was found within a field, suggesting the potential to prevent local N surplus or N depletion.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWhy grasslands?
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 30th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation Leeuwarden, the Netherlands 9-13 June 2024
EditorsC.W. Klootwijk, M. Bruinenberg, M. Cougnon, N.J. Hoekstra, R. Ripoll-Bosch, S. Schelfhout, R.L.M. Schils, T. Vanden Nest, N. van Eekeren, W. Voskamp-Harkema, A. van den Pol-van Dasselaar
Place of PublicationLeiden
PublisherBrill
Pages639-641
ISBN (Electronic)9789090384948
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event30th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation (EGF2024): Why grasslands? - Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Duration: 9 Jun 202413 Jun 2024

Publication series

NameGrassland Science in Europe
Volume29

Conference

Conference30th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation (EGF2024)
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityLeeuwarden
Period9/06/2413/06/24

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