Soil Management.docx

8. Soil Management Plant requires nutrients for nutrient supply, Soil, Organic Matter (FYM (Farmyard Manure), Slurry, Composts etc), Temperature, Soil pH and moisture Why Lime do we use lime? Soils low in lime- acidic- measured on pH scale there not very productive- poor crop yields. They have poor...

8. Soil Management Plant requires nutrients for nutrient supply, Soil, Organic Matter (FYM (Farmyard Manure), Slurry, Composts etc), Temperature, Soil pH and moisture Why Lime do we use lime? Soils low in lime- acidic- measured on pH scale there not very productive- poor crop yields. They have poor nutrient availability. How is lime lost- Lime is lost threw leaching - Drainage Water, Crops & Livestock. The Ideal soil pH is 6.5. The function of Lime is to remove acidity Improves organic matter breakdown, improve microbial activity/root development, improve drainage, makes soils easier to till, increases earthworm activity and improves clover & grass growth. Phosphorus (P) is particularly important in young plant development, plant growth, cell division, root development and gives higher yields & better quality Deficiency in P causes stunted crop growth- purple colour and Poor milk yields & low daily weight gains Potassium (K) Improves water uptake, storage and transport of carbohydrates, Strengthens Cereal straw, less risk of lodging and Improves eating quality of Potatoes & Vegetables Deficiency in K causes Weak plants produced, Plant short, surplus weak tillers, leaf edges and tips scorched Magnesium (Mg) is an integral component of chlorophyll- shortage reduces the plants ability to growth efficiently Deficiency in Mg causes yellowing between the veins of older leaves and Grass low in Mg causes Hypo magnesia - Grass Tetany Sulphur (S) is importance to Plants & Animals, Important in Protein Production Deficiency in S causes bright yellow colour on leaf, extremely stunted plant Artificial Fertilisers can be sold in small bags – 50kg, big bags – 500kg & bulk fertiliser. The EU & Irish regulations state that the outside of bag must state fertiliser % Nitrogen Fertilisers are readily available, quick acting applied as top dressing, prone to leaching Ammoniacal Nitrogen- slower acting than nitrate, not easily leached, 3-5weeks conversion C.A.N.- 27.5% N- half as nitrate, half as ammonium, suitable for grass esp. spring grazing, suitable for any crop Ureic Nitrogen- obtained from urea, organic N form, slow acting, availability affected by soil temp and moisture, requires moisture, not suitable for summer applications. Urea is cheap, easily leached. What are organic fertilisers? slurry, farmyard manure, sewage sludge and industrial sludges etc. Slurry storage- Depends on where you are from, type of livestock and no. of livestock Calculating slurry storage- Slurry= Number of animals x volume of excreta x weeks storage Example- A farmer in Cahir has 50 dairy cows. How much storage does he/she need? A dairy cow produces 0.33m3/Week 50 cows x 0.33 x 16=264m3) Timing of Manure Application has a big effect on N availability- best when spread in the spring compared to the summer and autumn (have 70% applied by end of April). Maximise slurry fertiliser value and reduce artificial fertiliser application rate. Rate of application- 33,000l/ha during Feb/March period Safety and slurry The Bacterial decomposition produces gases such as Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ammonia and Hydrogen sulphide. These are released during agitation Remove all stock from building when agitating or adding silage effluent to slurry, Agitate and spread when air movement possible, open all ventilation- create draught- gas will linger, stay out of building yourself, have agitate points outdoor and use Breathing apparatus if entering tank