The potential of diverse pastures to reduce nitrogen leaching on New Zealand dairy farms
P. C. Beukes A D , P. Gregorini A , A. J. Romera A , S. L. Woodward A , E. N. Khaembah A , D. F. Chapman A , F. Nobilly B , R. H. Bryant B , G. R. Edwards B and D. A. Clark C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A DairyNZ Ltd, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
B Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch 7647, New Zealand.
C 2 Callard Place, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand.
D Corresponding author. Email: pierre.beukes@dairynz.co.nz
Animal Production Science 54(12) 1971-1979 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14563
Submitted: 9 May 2014 Accepted: 4 July 2014 Published: 2 September 2014
Abstract
The largest contributor to nitrogen (N) leaching from ryegrass-clover pasture based dairy farms is the surplus feed N excreted as urinary N (UN) onto pastures. Pastures consisting of mixtures of ryegrass, herbs and legumes (diverse pastures) have shown potential to yield similar DM, but with a lower N content and a higher water soluble carbohydrate : crude protein ratio compared with standard ryegrass–clover pastures. These diverse pastures have shown the potential to lower the UN excreted by dairy cows in short-term, late-lactation studies. This modelling study was designed to scale the results from component studies up to farm and over a full season to evaluate the potential of diverse pastures to become a suitable strategy for reducing N leaching on New Zealand dairy farms. The Molly cow model was tested against observed data from one indoor and one outdoor study where feeding diverse pasture resulted in UN (N excreted in urine g/day) reductions of 50% and 17%, respectively. The model predicted UN reductions of 23% and 17%. Farm-scale model scenarios, where 20% or 50% of the farm was sown with diverse pastures, resulted in 2% and 6% reductions in UN deposited onto paddocks. This reduction was smaller than expected with some system interactions related to seasonal feed supply, diet composition and total N intake being likely to play a role. The reduction in UN onto paddocks, together with a dilution effect from larger urine volumes per cow per day as a result of lower DM% of diverse pastures, resulted in N leaching reductions of 11% and 19% for the two scenarios, respectively. This potential to reduce N leaching needs to be evaluated further in the context of farm profitability when other aspects of diverse pastures such as yield, persistency, drought resistance and ability to extract N from the soil becomes part of the farm-system analysis.
Additional keywords: farming systems, mixed pastures, modelling, multi-species pastures, urinary nitrogen, urine dilution.
References
Bannink A, Valk H, Van Vuuren A (1999) Intake and excretion of sodium, potassium, and nitrogen and the effects on urine production by lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 1008–1018.| Intake and excretion of sodium, potassium, and nitrogen and the effects on urine production by lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjtlWqu7o%3D&md5=04b143c03080ba1ab90acd60a39da0aeCAS | 10342240PubMed |
Beukes PC, Palliser CC, Macdonald KA, Lancaster JAS, Levy G, Thorrold BS, Wastney ME (2008) Evaluation of a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 2353–2360.
| Evaluation of a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXmsVWmtLc%3D&md5=1d5d63451ffb072554a27a75dec080e0CAS | 18487657PubMed |
Burke JL (2004) Determination of digestion parameters to develop and evaluate forage mixtures for pasture-fed ruminants. PhD Thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Cameron K, Di H, Moir J (2013) Nitrogen losses from the soil/plant system: a review. Annals of Applied Biology 162, 145–173.
| Nitrogen losses from the soil/plant system: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXntVagsr4%3D&md5=5e27a066a3b904b29817121ac13e6c2fCAS |
de Klein CAM, Monaghan RM, Ledgard SF, Shepherd M (2010) A system’s perspective on the effectiveness of measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of nitrogen losses from pastoral dairy farming. In ‘Meeting the challenges for pasture-based dairying. Proceedings of the Australasian dairy symposium, 31 August – 2 September 2010’. (Eds GR Edwards, RH Bryant) pp. 14–28. (Lincoln University: Christchurch, New Zealand)
Gregorini P, Beukes PC, Bryant RH, Romera AJ (2010) Invited review. Simulating the effect of feeding strategies on nitrogen excretions and methane emission from grazing dairy cows. In ‘Proceedings of the Australasian dairy symposium, 31 August – 2 September 2010. Meeting the challenges for pasture-based dairying’. (Eds GR Edwards, RH Bryant) pp. 29–43. (Lincoln University: Christchurch, New Zealand)
Hanigan MD, Appuhamy JADRN, Gregorini P (2013) Revised digestive parameter estimates for the Molly cow model. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 3867–3885.
| Revised digestive parameter estimates for the Molly cow model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXmtValsbY%3D&md5=0e68d4db759089e1dfaef4ebf67184c5CAS | 23587389PubMed |
Kolver E, Muller LD, Varga GA, Cassidy TJ (1998) Synchronization of ruminal degradation of supplemental carbohydrate with pasture nitrogen in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2017–2028.
| Synchronization of ruminal degradation of supplemental carbohydrate with pasture nitrogen in lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlt1eruro%3D&md5=cf25514e531a77acf1ddf73ba429c3b3CAS | 9710772PubMed |
Li GD, Kemp PD (2005) Forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.): a review of its agronomy and animal production. Advances in Agronomy 88, 187–222.
| Forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.): a review of its agronomy and animal production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitlKisr0%3D&md5=16c9aa1f09fa20b1497757c49aeffcf5CAS |
Li FY, Betteridge K, Cichota R, Hoogendoorn CJ, Jolly BH (2012) Effects of nitrogen load variation in animal urination events on nitrogen leaching from grazed pasture. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 159, 81–89.
| Effects of nitrogen load variation in animal urination events on nitrogen leaching from grazed pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Litherland AJ, Lambert MG (2007) Factors affecting the quality of pastures and supplements produced on farms. In ‘Pasture and supplements for grazing animals’. Occasional publication No. 14. (Eds PV Rattray, IM Brookes, AM Nicol) pp. 81–96. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production Inc.)
Malcolm BJ, Cameron KC, Di HJ, Edwards GR, Moir JL (2014) The effect of four different pasture species compositions on nitrate leaching losses under high N loading. Soil Use and Management
| The effect of four different pasture species compositions on nitrate leaching losses under high N loading.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Minneé EMK, Clark CEF, McAllister TB, Hutchinson KJ, Lee JM (2012) Chicory and plantain as feeds for dairy cows in late lactation. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australasian dairy science symposium, 13–15 November 2012’. (Ed. J Jacobs) pp. 426–428. (Department of Primary Industries, State Government Victoria: Melbourne)
Moir JL, Edwards GR, Berry LN (2013) Nitrogen uptake and leaching loss of thirteen temperate grass species under high N loading. Grass and Forage Science 68, 313–325.
| Nitrogen uptake and leaching loss of thirteen temperate grass species under high N loading.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXmtlahs7s%3D&md5=cec4f695fc15749767eddc849dd498b7CAS |
Moorby JM, Evans RT, Scollan ND, MacRae JC, Theodorosu MK (2006) Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation. Grass and Forage Science 61, 52–59.
| Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XjslWhu7k%3D&md5=24f10ca227b114e498a6b0d0188f68b3CAS |
Nobilly F, Bryant RH, McKenzie BA, Edwards GR (2013) Productivity of rotationally grazed simple and diverse pasture mixtures under irrigation in Canterbury. In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 75’. pp. 165–172.
Pacheco D, Lowe K, Burke JL, Cosgrove GP (2009) Urinary nitrogen excretion from cows at different stage of lactation grazing different ryegrass cultivars during spring and autumn. In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 69’. pp. 196–200.
Piggot GJ (2009) Low dry matter content of northern dairy pastures. In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 71’. pp. 31–34.
Probert M, Dimes J, Keating B, Dalal R, Strong W (1998) APSIM’s water and nitrogen modules and simulation of the dynamics of water and nitrogen in fallow systems. Agricultural Systems 56, 1–28.
| APSIM’s water and nitrogen modules and simulation of the dynamics of water and nitrogen in fallow systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Romera AJ, McCall DG, Lee JM, Agnusdei MG (2009) Improving the McCall herbage growth model. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 477–494.
Romera A, Beukes PC, Clark C, Clark DA, Levy H, Tait A (2010) Use of a pasture growth model to estimate herbage mass at a paddock scale on dairy farms. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 74, 66–72.
| Use of a pasture growth model to estimate herbage mass at a paddock scale on dairy farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Romera AJ, Levy G, Beukes PC, Clark DA, Glassey CB (2012) A urine patch framework to simulate nitrogen leaching on New Zealand dairy farms. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 92, 329–346.
| A urine patch framework to simulate nitrogen leaching on New Zealand dairy farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XlsVWntLs%3D&md5=538ef9f96699997e25c27a862d74dfdeCAS |
Romera A, Beukes P, Clark D, Clark C, Tait A (2013) Pasture growth model to assist management on dairy farms: testing the concept with farmers. Grassland Science 59, 20–29.
| Pasture growth model to assist management on dairy farms: testing the concept with farmers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderson MA, Skinner RH, Barker DJ, Edwards GR, Tracy BF, Weedon DA (2004) Plant species diversity and management of temperate forage and grazing land ecosystems. Crop Science 44, 1132–1144.
| Plant species diversity and management of temperate forage and grazing land ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soder KJ, Sanderson MA, Stack JL, Muller LD (2006) Intake and performance of lactating cows grazing diverse forage mixtures. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 2158–2167.
| Intake and performance of lactating cows grazing diverse forage mixtures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xlt1eqs7c%3D&md5=30248820215e4519392472dfa44b9fd7CAS | 16702282PubMed |
Tamminga S (1992) Nutrition management of dairy cows as a contribution of pollution control. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 345–357.
| Nutrition management of dairy cows as a contribution of pollution control.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tas B (2006) Nitrogen utilization of perennial ryegrass in dairy cows. In ‘Fresh herbage for dairy cattle’ (Eds A Elgersma, J Dijkstra, S Tamminga) pp. 125–140. (Springer: The Netherlands)
Totty VK, Greenwood SL, Bryant RH, Edwards GR (2013) Nitrogen partitioning and milk production of dairy cows grazing simple and diverse pastures. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 141–149.
| Nitrogen partitioning and milk production of dairy cows grazing simple and diverse pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2rsb3M&md5=bddba80fb350d551e80698eed891bbb5CAS | 23164232PubMed |
Valadares RFD, Broderick GA, Valadares , Filho SC, Clayton MK (1999) Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on ruminal protein synthesis estimated from excretion of total purine derivatives. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 2686–2696.
| Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on ruminal protein synthesis estimated from excretion of total purine derivatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXis1Or&md5=b9886dbb1b6c1bbe426c8febefcb1167CAS |
Valadares Filho SC, Broderick GA, Valadares RFD, Clayton MK (2000) Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on nutrient utilization and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 106–114.
| Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on nutrient utilization and milk production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10659970PubMed |
Wanjaiya GW, Wales WJ, Dellow DW (1993) Utilisation of white clover pasture and maize silage by the lactating dairy cow. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 53, 73–76.
Woodward SL, Waghorn GC, Bryant MA, Benton A (2012) Can diverse pasture mixtures reduce nitrogen losses? In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australasian dairy science symposium, 13–15 November 2012’. (Ed. J Jacobs) pp. 463–464. (Department of Primary Industries, State Government Victoria: Melbourne)
Woodward SL, Waugh CD, Roach CG, Fynn D, Phillips J (2013) Are diverse species mixtures better pastures for dairy farming? In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 75’. pp. 79–84.
Wynn KT, Piggot GJ (2012) Seasonal pattern of dry matter concentration in plantain pasture mixes. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australasian dairy science symposium, 13–15 November 2012’. (Ed. J Jacobs) pp. 439–440. (Department of Primary Industries, State Government Victoria: Melbourne)
