HAY AND ENSILAGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 237, 19 September 1936, Page 11

HAY AND ENSILAGE

How to Secure Better Crops

TOP-DRESSING

At this period of the year farmers will be contemplating the shutting up of fields for ensilage, and for hay. Fortunately in most districts the spring growth has been favourable, and unless a severe cold spell eventuates it should be possible to close up tho maximum areas this year. Areas intended for ensilage should be closed from stock early and then cut when grass is in the leafy stage if the highest quality product is to be obtained. This practice also ensures the most satisfactory aftermath growth, which in turn provides useful, succulent forage.

It is now realised that the taking of ensilage and hay crops is much more exhaustive of soil fertility than where the areas are maintained under grazing conditions. In fact, a heavy crop is more exhausting than a crop of wheat. This indicates the desirability of manuring the areas intended for ensilage and hay. The sooner this is done, and the heavier, within reason, the application of suitable fertilisers, the better will be the returns in respect to both quantity and quality of product. Further, the more quickly and vigorously will aftermath growth come away and provide succulent Summer feed. The evidence is accumulating that in topdressing fields intended for ensilage and hay, balanced fertilisers should be applied. Phosphate, and that in readily available form as in superphosphate, is a primary essential. Then nitrogen markedly stimulates growth of the grasses whilst some lime also assists in providing high quality forage. The three plant foods mentioned above can be secured in one fertiliser, i.e., neutral ammoniated super, which is made up of two parts super, 1 part sulphate of ammonia and 1 part carbonate of lime.

Hay drains heavily oh the potash of the soil and particularly on the light to medium soils and in regions of high rainfall which tends to have soils leached. In regard to potash supplies the addition of 1 to IJcwts. 30 per cent, potash salts er acre, can be added to the neutral ammoniated super which should go on at the rate of not less than 2 to 3 cwts. per acre.