TOPDRESSING OF PASTURES
EXCESSIVE USE OF PHOSPHATE SEEN (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, Aug. 12. “There is very good evidence that wholesale use of phosphate is not increasing productivity in the slightest degree,” said Dr. J. Melville, director of the grasslands division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, at the annual conference of the Dairy Science Association at Massey Agricultural College. “Until a few years ago the topdressing of dairy pastures meant only one thing to 99 per cent, of our dairy farmers—the application of superphosphate,” he said. ‘‘On the principle that you can’t have too much of a good thing, many dairy farmers have been .applying annual dressings of 3cwt, 4,5, and even 6cwt an acre.
“In many cases severe reductions in rate would be entirely justified. Recent work on plant nutrition throws even greater suspicion on our unilateral topdressing policy,” commented Dr. Melville,
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Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 12
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148TOPDRESSING OF PASTURES Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 12
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