TOP-DRESSING OF PASTURES

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 13

TOP-DRESSING OF PASTURES

EXPERIMENTS AT PUKERAU. GORE, January 16. Mr G. R. Herron, Pukerau, has recently been carrying out an experiment on his farm with a view to ascertaining which of the various fertilisers gives the best results as a top-dressing for pastures.

The paddock selected for the purpose was one w’hich had been down in grass for ten yeans, and had never been previously top-dressed, but had received an application of two tons of shell lime per acre 23 years ago. The sole of grass was fairly good, however. An inspection of the plots recently showed that the. difference in the results from the various applications was easily discernible. The plots, ten in all, and a control plot, were top-dressed early in September. No. 1 received an application at the rate of lewt nitrate of soda and lewt potash salts per acre, and showed a very quick response, the growth being very noticeable and of a riclf green colour. Plot 2, which received 2cwt potash salts, was very disappointing, and the results were not so good as those obtained from plot 3, to which lewt only had been applied. Plot 4, which received nitrate of soda lewt and super lewt, was perhaps the best, and showed a very vigorous growth in the spring, and was outstanding for a long time. Plot 5,2 cwt nitrate soda, showed poor results, and was not a payable proposition. Plot G was better than the previous one. Plot 7, which received a dressing of 2cwt super, and' plots 8 and 9 lewt super, were very good, the growth of clover being the best here. Plot 10, 2cwt basic slag, showed splendid results. The growth came quickly, and with the exception of plot 4 this plot came away as early as any. A strip of basic slag was also sown across across each plot, and all showed an improvement on this patch.

: It is Mr Herron’s intention shortly tb cut and weigh .a portion of each plot; when a more reliable guide to results will be: obtained, but his summing up at present is:—(1) That very little potash, if any, is required; (2) that a light application of nitrate of soda stimulates early growth; (3) that lewt super gives practically as good results as 2cwt, and is. the best proposition of all; (4) that basic slag comes next to super, and gives immediate and lasting results. It may be added that all the plots, with the exception of the control one, received scwt carbonate of lime along with the fertilisers.