 To gain an understanding of the principles of soil science  To assess the nutrient content of soils through soil sampling & analysis  To understand the importance of lime  To be aware of nutrient content of animal manures  To be aware of nutrient requirements and the planning of nutrient management

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 Soil is made up of 3 main mineral components 1. Sand 2. Silt 3. Clay  Proportion of each determines soil type  12 different soil types/textures 4

 Sand is gritty and breaks up if rolled into a ball  Silt is smooth, silky or floury  Clay is sticky when wet, shiny when smeared and holds shape 5

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7  Valuable source often overlooked.  Amount of nutrients depends on soil type, rainfall and previous management  How to find out what’s in soil? − Soil sampling − Soil analysis

 Nitrogen (N) – most important for plant growth  Phosphorus (P)  Potassium (K) – often referred to as Potash  Others important are Sulphur (S), Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca)

 Sample every 4-5 years  Ideally October – February when at least 3 months since application of slurry, manure, fertiliser or lime  Walk a “W” pattern through field  25 cores per sample  Send to laboratory for analysis

1. pH 2. Lime requirement 3. Phosphorus index 4. Potassium index 5. Magnesium index

13 Soil AcidityNPK pH 5.0 (Very Strong acidic) 53%34%52% pH 5.5 (Strongly acidic) 77%48%77% pH 6.0 (medium acidic) 89%52%100% Liming increases the availability of soil nutrients. Your fertiliser is more efficient if soil pH is at optimum level.

Tonnes of lime spread (000s) £/t Delivered approx £12£15£17£20£22£23

 Conditions the soil  Improves the availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Calcium & Magnesium  Encourages micro-organisms in soil which help to release nitrogen from organic matter

 Increases earthworm activity  Improves soil structure  Grass is more palatable to livestock (tastier)

 Total lime required = Field area x lime requirement per acre Exercise – If field 13 is 8 acres in size how much lime is required =8 x 2.5 = 20 tonnes

 Same product just made from finest lime  Fast acting  Can be applied with fertiliser sower  Must be used each year to improve soil pH over time  Typically 100kg/acre  Has its uses but not effective long term

IndexDescription 0Deficient 1OK for extensive 2Optimum for grazing or silage. 3High >4Excessive

IndexDescription 0Deficient 1Low 2-Optimum for grazing or silage. 2+High 3 & aboveExcessive

24  31% of samples below index 2 for P  44% of samples below index 2- for K  64% of samples below 6.0 for pH  Only 18% are optimum

 Valuable source of nutrients  Sample every 4 years  Use analysis to determine the amount of nutrients in the soil  The higher the soil nutrient reserves (Index), the lower the need for additional nutrients

Getting the balance right! Nutrients In Nutrients Out

 Standard recommendations for Nitrogen  Depends on P index  Depends on K index  Was slurry spread?

kg/haunits/acre 1 st cut nd cut rd cut8064 * Recommendations are the upper limit of N application

Index Phosphorus01234 Units required Index Potassium Units required 112*88** *48 units previous Autumn **24 units previous Autumn

Index Phosphorus01234 Units required Index Potassium Units required

 Standard recommendations for Nitrogen  Depends on P index  Depends on K index  Was slurry spread?

billion gallon Produced in NI each year

33 When – 1 st February – 15 th October in suitable weather & ground conditions Aim to apply slurry & manure in the same conditions and weather as when applying bagged fertiliser. Leave 3-4 days after applying slurry before applying bagged fertiliser – N loss minimised. Where – 10m from water course, 20m from lakes, 50m spring, well or borehole & 250m public water supply

Nutrient content of slurry depends on number of factors 1. What were cattle fed (levels & type) 2. Dry Matter (DM) of the slurry 3. Application method 4. Timing of slurry application

 Nutrient content of slurry depends on what level of concentrate feeding stock received  Meal contains high levels of P and K so this will come through in slurry  Dry suckler cows receiving no concentrate will produce low value slurry  Bull beef fed straw and high level of concentrate will produce high value slurry

 Dry matter of slurry is important!  4% DM slurry will only contain half nutrients of 8% slurry  Watery slurry is lower value  Service available to get slurry tested for DM and nutrient content

% dry matter % dry matter % dry matter K20K20P205P205 N Livestock Type * Nitrogen is full content. Not all this is available to the plant (depends on timing).

38 Inverted splashplateTrailing shoe

AFBI Hillsborough Research Results:  Reduced ammonia losses  Better N utilisation  Produces higher grass yields - Trailing Shoe + 24% - Band Spreading + 16% Benefits of Alternative Slurry Spreading Systems

 More even spread  Give less grass contamination  Slurry spreading up to 4 weeks after cutting  Reduced runoff – trailing shoe compared to splash plate  Can spread within 3m of watercourse rather than 10m Benefits of Alternative Slurry Spreading Systems

TimingNPK AvailableTotal Feb - Apr May - July Aug - Oct

Every 1000 gallons of a typical beef slurry contains;  7 units (N) Nitrogen  11 units (P) Phosphorus  22 units (K) Potassium  3000 gallons per acre = 21 units N, 33P, 66K  Net worth of 3000 gallons slurry?  Approx £41

Getting the balance right! Nutrients In Nutrients Out

44 1. Soil sample 2. Estimate Nitrogen requirements 3. What nutrients does the crop require? 4. How many nutrients can be supplied by organic manures? 5. Which chemical fertiliser can supply the remaining nutrients required

45 Crop Nutrient Recommendation Calculator (

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 CAN (27-0-0)  (Superstart)  (Urea)      

 1 st Cut silage  P index 1  K index 1  2500 gallons beef slurry per acre  How much and what type fertiliser is required?

Index Phosphorus01234 Units required Index Potassium Units required 112*88** *48 units previous Autumn **24 units previous Autumn

Nitrogen (N)Phosphorus (P)Potassium (K) Required – units per acre Slurry supplies Required from fertiliser Most suitable fertiliser ¼ bags supplies

 1 st Cut silage  P index 2  K index 2-  3000 gallons beef slurry per acre  How much and what type fertiliser is required?

Nitrogen (N)Phosphorus (P)Potassium (K) Required – units per acre Slurry supplies Required from fertiliser 7500 Most suitable fertiliser ¾ bags supplies 7400