Key Points
- Maize is grown on dairy farms to increase feed supply and renovate pasture. These farms are often highly fertile, particularly if effluent has been applied and/or the paddock is being cropped for the first time.
- Fertiliser treatments were applied to five maize crops grown on dairy farms in spring 2008. The treatments, replicated 4 or 5 times at each site, were nil fertiliser and starter fertiliser. Crop and soil nutrients were monitored over the season.
- There was no effect of starter fertiliser on maize silage yield at any site. The average crop yield was 27 T DM/ha. The total amount of N supplied from the soil (excluding fertiliser N) averaged 380 kg N/ha, enough to meet crop requirements.
- High fertility dairy paddocks cultivated for the first time after long term pasture can supply enough nutrients to meet the needs of maize silage. Substantial economic and environmental gains can be made by reducing fertiliser inputs in such situations. This confirms results from year one of the project (Maize Arable Update No. 59).