TOR-DRESSING OF PASTURE?.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 777, 29 March 1910, Page 10

TOR-DRESSING OF PASTURE?.

/ /: //FO'CF,/EXPERIMENTS. ..." :,:■ 'A series of reports has come to hand from' Mr. G. do S; Baylis, Fields Ih.Etnic'tor. to the Department of Agriculture "f/>r. the North Island,, on,four: experiments' in ; the top-dressing of ...pastures.' The first experiment, extending over -three seasons, was.carried out .. tii/Stratford; the .secoM.and .third,.; ex- : tending oyer two seasons,, at.' Fordcll arid Porewa, near Huntervi)le. The > fourth "experiment was-made-it Tunauiii in Hawke's Bay, and also extends over/ two seasons.', Taking the firi'an.cial"results,.'it. appears that?.'at Stratford arid Porewa the: best returns were obtaine'dvfrom/manures '/composed ■ of • bdsic slag and potash' of sulphate, .-.while . at For'dell and'Tunanui the;most:profitable plots were those which received the - bdnedust, superphosphate, and pot-!:-.aS^-of^sulphate;.mirture.'':'-At';.Pordell,. however,? the -greatest .' increase'-in wteight.-was : made by-' the; plot treated -with- a' inixturo- of lOowt-. basic ■ slag and lewt, potash of sulphate. 'The :: gain,.-unfortunately, was swallowed up by..the'-.cost: of, the. manure::-.. The most remarkable 1 -result/in''the series, was /that obtained.: on: Plot 5 at Tunanui, 'where-a'financial gain of oyer .£3 per '; In.-.two -seasons, --with. each "of' the>two.bone'dust mixtures:;; The' details"- bf: the experiments are as follow,', the. figures-' being, .per.-acre- through-, out. '. In-each case'the hay. is .'es'tifDated at3s per",cent. ;of: the-'green weight, *nd:is'yalued.'at;£2:ioß.',p<!r ton: 1 --. The Stratford Paddock.;/•■'-/■ v . ''; '■'•■•- Plot' T;—Disked' in : August 16, .'• 1907/ yield, 1907t8, 84721b: r : yield, 1908-9, 83991b.-; yield; 1909-10, , 99401b.;' 'increase' over, uo lhanure, 1909-10, 27681b.; .Viet' gain; of grass for .three;years., oyer rio manure, 58511b.; value of .increase, £'2:-'ss.';-c6st'ef manufefor whple ; peribd, : 7s;;; gain'during'thrte seasons,' £1.18s; . Plot 2.—Manure, aOcwt: siag; yield, •1907-8, 13,1041b.; 1908-9,,- 12,4051bV; 1909-10, 97281b.; incrcaso over no manure,, season ,1909-10, 30561b. ;\.net ■~gai'nof.grass for:three'yearsi''l4j27.7lb.:i •'value of increase; £5 10s;.;: total, cost.. . iof .manure; '£2 os.; gain.during three .'•seasons, £3'55. : Plot.:3.—Manure, lOcwt. slag, lewt." ■'30 per potash;,yield,'. 1907-8 1; 13,:7441b..; vl908 : 9, ,15,8111b. ;"1909-iO, 98081b.; increase - oVer no ; manure; ■'-1909-10, ■313'61b..;,'net -.gain, of grass. ; for;'.three tyears, 18,4031b.; value of increase, £7 ; 35.; : total: cost of manure,: £2 '18s. -7d.';. igain during three seasons, £4 4s. sd. ■ . Plot 4—No., manure; yield,.-1907-8, 62961b.;:•-■ 1908-9, :"• 79921bi-; : 1909-10,-;(i6721b. :::-\:..- : • ■•■':' . '•'■-':.' Remarks.—There-has riot'-been-.'-'a large .increase in■•': weight obtained this :season ;: ih.:these.:plots, ,but there.js, a ' -;considerable: difference.; in'.-tlie ■ values■- of the',;',feed: grqwihg ...upon.-the manured .-plots as': compared • to' that growing tipori; the disked arid no 'manure.'plots. 'V It .would be. reasonable, however, to ex- :: pect. that a -d'ressing/iof• half ; ,a.-.ton of slag per-acre, should have resulted in ■a' more marked ..difference; in"; this: the .third "year.. Further experiments should - beliundertaken- in this, district. It is 1 possible that on such friable and por- .: tills/soils that 6ewt.'' of slagv would in . v if; riot quite,- ' ;as< much as lOcwt.- ■•' It is very evident .that slag has beeri of;very great beriefit ;to this soil. It is.advisable pri soils of . .this-fiature to use potash in addition "Vto'.the slag. •■..-.-'■ Fprdell Rssults. ') ' . .-> ; ,, Vv'This experiment-was; made V'by;'Mr. John M'Gretor, of Matarawa, For- ■■ jV.dfell.:-;::■?;.":: -:•■' ':;... : v';Jv:?.; '- .;,': :V:,. :.'■;":Plot: 'pe'r':acre, :.10cwt. v '.Blag; yield 1908-9,, 18;9161b"3V; iricrease. Otrerrio manure'''27p7lbs;)'yield. 1909-10,' :17,2561h5.;' .:22441b5..;-net;;gajri:\m , V;two;j^rs;. r . lbs..;' .value; :£l-: 18s.;- cost -.of'tiianure'i' :£2 i ss.;'loss;v7s;;:^.' ; .>:' :'\ z .;'■'-■"."; ' '■■-■■■■ Plot. 2.-—lOcwt.' slag,: ,i«wt..- potass ' sium sulphate; yield 1908-9/ 20,8521b5. '; increase/over no manure, 46431b5.; yield 1909-10,: 18,8281bs.; increase 3816 lbs.;/total, gain for two years, 84591b5.; value, £3' 55.; cost; of manure, £2 : '18s. -7d.'; .'gain, 6s. sd. • Plot manure; 1 :-vield, : 1908-9,- ; 16i2091b5. ;• ;yieldj 1909-10,' IS^piahsv",:' : Flot: '•; 4.—2jcvH. ; boriedust,' lewt. :: super; yield; 1908-9, ..19,4461bs.;'inicrease over no manure; 32371b5.; yield - 1909-10, 15,'8881b5.;- 'increase-'' 8761b5.;' total gain in two years 41131b5.; value ,£1..125.; cost of manure, £1.15.'6 d.; gaiiji 105V.6d.;: - °' ' : /.''•, ' : '. : .; /Plot.'. s.—2jcwt. s .bonedust, lewt. -super.; Jtwt. potassium sulphate; "yield 1908-9, 22,9251b5.; increase .over ..no. manure, '67161b5.;; -yield,! 1909-10,-16|6561b5. j' increase over-no manure,, 16441b'5., , v t6tal . gain: in -two' years/. S36olbs.;'valvie,'£3 is.Voost of manure, , £l",lls..9d:;; gain,, £1" 125.;.3d.''"" : /:\--' ;■■•' Comriientirig on- these'-results Mr.' : Baylis, of the Agrioultural Department, says:. "This: paddock, was ■ top-dressed ; : :pu, August ,4,.1908. ■■ : This, therefore,. . is; the second • season in' which:- 'records. have been taken. Mr. '. J. W. Deem, :.:.who,'-'obtained ;the records of weights taken . says:'' 'Plot. 2; where. basic : slag ■ and ..sulphate of-potash ''we're' used/is: the,best.' Although the gain'in. r weight' is not very great on the several ma- ; riured plots: it, does' not 'express' anything like the net. weights from the, use . -of'.the manure. . Hay cut from, plots .1 arid'2-consisted fnostly of clovers, trefoil, ;ryo '■"•and other fine grasses; .that : from the unmanured .plots. -of., fog, -.- hawkw'eed, '■' and ' other; almost ■' useless: ; grasses. .vPutting it, at a low estimate . it would- he safe to say< that, twe tons' of- the former, .were equal- in -feeding . value to : threo of tho, latter. " In comparing -the• results.of this;season with those of last season three: things have : to he remembered. The'first is that it, is 'somewhat' hard .-'treatment to- con-: • tinually . cut hay from the same paddock. -Secondly,-that, there is usually a slight: benefit derived : by"; the no -manure plot from the stock which-are . grazed on the : manured plots. Thirdly, that'in-many districts the j-ields of hay obtained ; this • year 'have-been lighter .'than.those;of last-season."::;,' .; ,' TJief Huntervllle/Ex'parlmQntiA v'}. ; '< 111: this case '.-the experiment : Vwascarried out by-Mr. J. -Wi:-Marshall,; : of; , Porewa,- -which' is. near'Rata, in - -.'the' Huntervifle district: /:, ; ::•'(,:, V: -.:: i Plot I.—-No,, riianurejiyield' -1908-9-j . season -14,1601b.; ' 1909-10 :.' season/ :-11,0181b,;,".:. ..':. , ~' ;;v ;; V;^;;;v : , :•'; Plot 2.—Manure, Ocwt.' slag";: yield, : 1908-9; ;■ 11,7601b.;.;, yield,. ~1909-10, ; 12,5361b.;Increase over no.-manure 5 in 1909-10,' 9201b. ' ■•"•' "" :'. .. 'Plot 3.—Manure, 6cwt. 'slag; ljcwt. . sulphate ;of ■■potash; -yield,- 1 1908-9, . 22,2401b. : ; incrcaso over no manuro - in 80801b:-yield, 1909-10,:16,'4161b.; increase over no manflre.■'; ''; 48001b.;' net .increase of ■ two;- year's, oyer : no; manure; 12,8801b.'; vhlue.'.'of. iric'rea'se : ,'■ £5; total cost, of ■ mari'ure,-£2.'7s. ! 4d.; ■'. gain for "two -seasons; £2 13s::;.:,. ', . v .Plot 4.—Manure; : 25-cwt: bpnedusi;, ' Scwt 1 . super,' IJcwt. sulpli. potash; yield; 1908-9, 21,3201b.;'" increase over no-manure, in-1908-9, 71601b.';. yield, -1909-10,: 13,9841b.; increase -over no manure in 1909-10, 23681b.; net increase over no manure in. two seasons, 95281b.; value of increase, £3 145.; total cost of: manure,. £2 7s. Id.; ; gain for two seasons, £1, 65.. Hd.

■■> Plot 5— Manure, 2Jewt. ■ boncdiis.., 2cwt, super.;, yield, 1908-9,'19,2801b.; incrcaso over no manure in 1908-9, 5120!b'.; yield, 1909-10, -,11,5841b.; .increase over iio manure in 1909-10, 821b.-; "net increase for: two seasons, sUjßlo. ; valuo of increase, £2; total cost of. manure,' £1.'95.; gain for two seasons, lis. /Tho notes.made by Mr. A. Morrison, managing during Jlr. (Marshall's absence are as follow:—"Plot I.—Mostly soft, meadow grass with . very littlq clover. Plot 2.—An improvement -on Plot l,:-with a small proportion of_ trefoils and .clovers.' Plot 3— Decidedly the best; plenty, of trefoils.and clovers, and of a rich dark green colour. Plot L— Clovers not so plentiful as on Plot 3, but 'has made,a grand sample of hay. Plot's.—Made a fair samplo: of hay, with, less clover, than' in Plot 4." Plot 1 is unfortunately an abnormal plot for a no-manure plot, as it has the shelter from two hedges, which have greatly benefited , .it," The expenditure. uii manure was heavy, but it has more than doubled it in returns made. It should bo rioted thai, there is a decided downward tendency-in, bath plots ,4 and ,o. ■Therefcca'h bo-* no-doubt but'that very coiisiderable"profit"is'to bo derived by the uso of basic slag and potash upon this soil; and the financial benefit likely to accrue should.bo tested by a carry-:ihg'-capacity'- experiment run m this district, on 1 much,.the'same.lines as.tho one conducted by Mr. G. L.V Marshall, of .Turakiha;' .' ' ' f.' - .:',., . Hawko's Bay Figures. "t. ~■•'-.'/■ The .result of the experiment . conMr. A.H. RussellJ_of Tunaiiui/Hawke's Bay, is as fellows:— Plot I.—No manure,; harrowed and seeded; yield, 1908-9. 64661b.; decrease below.uo' manure,,.:l9oß^9, N "29681b.; not ciit-m 1909-10:"' ' ,: ' ' ' ■'"''."/' : ':' 3cwtf ''slag, liar-; rowed'-'and seeded;' yield,: 1908:9,' 10,9181b.;. .increase ovqr.. no manure, 14841b'.; -yield, 1909-10, ■■'" 92401b.; increase over no-manure, :14821b..; gain for'two years," 29861b.'; total 'valuo of ihcroase,. £l.;2si; 6d.;;tcos't of manure,' ;■£! 25.'6d : .-';.gUin:dt:jOSs'„'.nil.: ■'■■'./' /i/TloO^Manufe,'./lOb'wtr- slag, ;not hanWed'' or'"seeded:',...yield, 1908-9, 12,2y61b.; increase- -over'.-no'' manure, 28621b.; -yie1d,,;.1909-10, .ai.lSOlb.jr;; in-' .'crease yo'ye'r/rid .manure, -34221b:; total, gain, 62541b/.; total value of increase, :£2 95.; cost of .manure,. £2 55.; gain) 45,:

Plot -.4.—Manure, 2owt. bonedu'st, 2' ,cwt.,-super. ;v:yield,v--.1908-9, 13,6921b.;. increase over-riomaHiire/42581b.; yield, 1909-10, 14,3551b/; V increase over . nomanure, -'~65971b;.;- Vtotal increase,10,8oolb. ; ; total -value -of increase, £4 45.; total cost of manure) £1 3s. Cd.; total.gain, £3 os. 6d.

Plot s.—Mariui-e, 2cwt. bonfedust, 2cwt: super.y : lewt. potash sulphate; •yielsl,"l9oß-9, ; 15,9061b./-increase over no manure, ; 64661b";;' ; 'yield; .1909-10, 14851b.; increase over no - manure, ,70921b.;-total gain, ; 13,5581b.; total ;value;:pf .total cost of riia'nure,, £1 17s/.id.; total gain, £3 75.; lld.:v;:;..,::: ru,;': .\. •;>,,-; •■. .':',"

- Plot, manure or treatment; yield, 1908-9, 94341b.; yield, "1909-10, 77581b.; decrease in, yield,: 16761b. .

. Plots 1' arid 2 were, harrowed somewhat severely, :':arid some, seed .was broadcasted. This operation being performed in the yririter, at the same tim». as the manures were applied, few, if /afiVj^ofpthe' ':;■ successit is ■'possible'''thatV a certain amourit of damago was done to roots and seeds ; 'by the^apt'iSiiVof/thejfrost.,