Over the past 30 years there has been a significant increase in the use of nitrogen fertiliser on Australian dairy farms. This review evaluates what approaches exist now or have the potential to decouple the link between production, fertiliser use and environmental impact. The review concludes that improved timing of fertiliser decisions, variable and appropriate rates and the effective adoption of developing technologies will assist in reducing nitrogen losses to the environment.

Low levels of plant-available micronutrients were an inherent feature of many agricultural soils in Australia. Recommendations developed for management of micronutrients in pastures have not been systematically updated to keep pace with the ongoing farming-system changes affecting micronutrient status in pastures. Pasture production would benefit from targeted investigation of the current micronutrient status of pasture soils and plants and of micronutrient-linked animal-production issues.

Various alternative fertilisers were evaluated in a 6-year study alongside superphosphate, the industry standard, to test common anecdotal claims that these fertilisers provide increased pasture productivity and a ‘healthier’ soil microbial environment. Superphosphate was found to be the most P-effective fertiliser for increasing productivity and none of the products had a substantial effect on soil microbiology. The results highlight that on-farm management decisions regarding choice of fertiliser product should focus on pasture response and cost-effectiveness.

There has been no assessment of nodulation status of pasture legumes or how it is affected by soil conditions and management across the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of New South Wales. This study found poor legume nodulation in >90% of paddocks sampled, related to host plant–symbiont associations, soil pH, and availability of phosphorus and sulfur. The data can inform appropriate legume–symbiont associations depending on soil conditions and drive remediation to address soil pH issues and nutrient needs for improved pasture and crop productivity in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones.

Poor legume persistence under variable climatic conditions compromises the productivity of permanent pasture swards in the Tablelands environments of south-eastern Australia. With few viable alternatives presently available, the drought-sensitive species, white clover, remains the best adapted perennial legume across much of the target region. This review examines the prospects for more strategic use of fertilisers and soil ameliorants, in combination with additional plant breeding for seedling regeneration, to improve the survival and recovery of white clover following periodic drought.

Perennial ryegrass is the predominant perennial forage species in temperate irrigated dairy systems in Australia; however, its summer production can be poor. This research investigated the effects of genotype and summer irrigation on growth and survival of 15 perennial ryegrass and tall fescue genotypes. Dry matter production and plant frequency were reduced under restricted irrigation and there were few differences among cultivars, suggesting that plant performance over summer may be more influenced by irrigation management than by cultivar selection.

Selecting pasture species suitable for particular soil and climate conditions is a critical step in growing productive and persistent pastures. Fine-scale soil and rainfall data were used for spatial evaluation of the suitability of growing perennial ryegrass and lucerne across agricultural land in Tasmania, with soil pH and drainage identified as key constraints. Fine-scale mapping can help to identify constraints and prioritise land suited to amelioration, or support the selection of other pasture species adapted to these conditions.

The low mineral content of many Australian soils means that improvements in pasture and livestock production potential may increase the risk of mineral deficiencies. There is evidence to support this, but there is also wide variation in the mineral concentrations among forage types. This means that innovative grazing-system design using forage diversity offers an opportunity to avoid deficiency or imbalance.