High nitrogen fertilizer applications on grasses and the long-term residual effects

Non-Peer ReviewedIt has long been established that the primary limiting factors for dryland forage production in southwest Saskatchewan are moisture and nutrient availability. Only the soil nutrient supply can readily be increased and the nutrient most needed is nitrogen. Recently, investigations have been reported that have shown substantial and long term increases in forage production and nutrient quality from single massive applications of nitrogen at rates as high as 1095 kg N/ha. This paper is an interim report on a long-term experiment started in 1967 to test the concept of single applications of high rates of nitrogen and phosphorus on tame grasses and rangeland. A final report and a full economic evaluation will be prepared in the future as the study nears completion