15/01/2014. Overview. Soils of Ireland. Challenges. Fertiliser usage and soil fertility trends. Managing soil fertility for high performance

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1 5// Overview Soils of Ireland the Challenge & the Opportunity Irish Soils and their roduction otential Fertiliser usage and soil fertility trends Mark lunkett, David Wall Managing soil fertility for high performance Teagasc Conference Jan Soils of Ireland Irish Soils & their production potential m ha % Lowland Mineral.9 66% General Soils Map, 98 County Bulletins - % of Country Irish Soils Information System (ISIS) ie/johnstown/soil_maps.asp Lee & Diamond (97) Land Use otential for livestock Land Type Challenges Livestock roduction Target (LU/ha) Dry.95 % up to.9 Wet A.7 %.7. Wet B.7 %.9 Water Biodiversity Marginal m ha (5%) Mountain & Hill.7 % Low level peat (blanket & basin).78 % Total 6.6 Environmental Sustainability GHG.5 Ammonia Approx. m LU Mean - Grassland - Agro Conference - = Approx.. m LU 5 Jan 6

2 5// Fertiliser Use and Soil fertility hosphorus otassium % Soils low in Usage % Soils low in Usage % Soils low in 7 9 Soil ph and Lime Lime usage 97-9 % kg/ha/yr Tonnage of Lime (' t/yr) 9 7 Lime usage in Ireland fertiliser use (kt/yr) 6 % soils low in 7 fertiliser use (kt/yr) Fertiliser Usage and Soil Fertility Trends 9% 8% 9% % 9% % 5% % 5% % 8% % 8% 7% 5 6% 7% 8% 8% 9% % 5 % 5% 6% % % 8% 9% % 7% 5% 6% 6% % % 5% > <5.5 % % % % % 8% 5 7% 7 Year % % 9 % Fertile Soils Getting all things right! Grassland - Managing soil fertility for high performance Tillage - Soil ph > 6.; Soil and Index or Soil ph > 6.5; Soil and Index or Optimum % Optimum % Getting the basics right is more important now than it ever was! 9% 87%

3 5// Soil testing Why & How? Index Description Very Low Low Target High How? Sample Area Minimum cores per sample Full cm depth When? Late Autumn / Early Spring ideal Results ready for fertilizer planning for the coming year Soil Testing Cost / Benefit 5 ~ % of soils are optimised for, & lime If no soil test and assume Index, then you are likely to be wrong in 9% of fields!! Cost Consider relative to fertilizer cost? = -5 / tonne??? 6 7 Soil ph and Liming Lime and availability Change in Soil test after months 8 (mg/l) 6 Soil reserve less available N s less available Optimum ph for grassland = Maximum nutrient release from soils Soil biological activity 6% of grassland soil < Lime increased the ST. Additive benefits of and lime 8. Sheil et al, Control Lime + Lime Average change in soil test (Morgan s) across 6 soils treated with ( kg/ha of ), Lime (5 t/ha of lime), and + Lime and incubated over months in controlled conditions. Response to fertilizer on acid soils???? Conference - Jan. 8 9

4 5// Lime in grassland bullock 5 kg of Lime Offtake N fertiliser litres milk kg of Lime kg = 8- kg lime 5 t/ha silage DM 75 kg of Lime Index Description Very Low Low Target High ha Grassland Example 5 kg/ha N kg, litres milk kg Lime loss in drainage 5-65 kg Up to 5-65 kg/ha/yr of lime in drainage Total lime required kg/ha/yr & Soil Index & Advice Convert test result into soil Index Index & : Requires additional nutrients to build soil reserves Target = All soils in Index for and! Only ~ 5% at present Soil Index Description Very low Low Medium High Soil test (mg L-) Soil test (mg L-) Build up Advice Build up Nutrient Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance Replace Conference - Jan Target Index : Maintain balance Index : Draw on soil reserves Replace Replace Soil Index How long does it take to change Index? Calculating Offtake Normally takes a number of years to increase/decrease Lighter soils tend to move faster Lower organic matter Less clay Advice Apply fertilizer as per soil test for a number of years Re-test every -5 years to monitor changes over time Will change more quickly than Index & Apply maintenance plus build-up until next soil test Index Skip application for one year, then revert to maintenance 6

5 5// Slurry Value gallons =?? Soiled Water Cattle Slurry (Splash plate) All Year Spring Summer kg 5 kg 5 kg 5 / gals Agro Conference - Jan 8 / galsgrassland 7 In spring or summer FYM ( ton) 5 kg + units N / gallons 6 / gals / gals ig Slurry Trailing Shoe 5 kg / ton 8 Decisions with slurry Contribution to Slurry Value. Cattle Slurry Where to spread Majority of the value is in and & requirements Target fields with: low soil and High requirements (e.g. silage) N % 9% Aim to get best use of both and in slurry 69%. Timing or method No effect on and When to spread Maximise N availability Weather as important as season, but spring generally best Trailing shoe / band spreader will also increase N value Conference - Big effect on N Conference - Jan 9 Jan Nutrient Balance What is the Weakest Link? Nutrient in shortest supply limits determines yield Especially true with and lanning Soil tests & Cropping Slurry & fertilizers Straight N- products N- products N Conference - Jan 5

6 5// Sulphur Timing and application >% of Irish soils require S for optimum yield Autumn restricted by nitrates rules (5 Sept) Spring + little and often through the year Index and No soil test Apply build-up in spring Soil texture Light texture (>5% sand) No nitrates timing restrictions (straight ) Avoid > 9 kg/ha in spring Low organic matter (<% org C) Can reduce Mg in grass Apply build-up in Summer / early Autumn On responsive soils: Fixing soils: Silage kg/ha of S per cut Build up unlikely Grazing kg/ha per year Little and often Conference - Jan 6 Soil Fertility Management Targets Have soil analysis for whole farm Soil ph between 6 and 6.5 in all fields and Index in all fields Index is a resource Exploit it Index & should be increased to Index Optimise slurry first then top up with fertilizer as required Nutrient inputs in proper balance planning is key 5 Soils of Ireland the Challenge & the Opportunity Mark lunkett, David Wall Teagasc Conference Jan 6