What to do when the drought breaks

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use

12 March 2008

What to do when the drought breaks

With some rainfall in most parts of the country farmers may be starting to turn their minds to what they can do to restore their farms when the drought eventually breaks.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Head of Agro-Sciences, Warwick Catto, says that maximising dry matter production once the rain comes is going to be critical to set the farm up for next season.

‘From a fertiliser perspective, the key decision facing many will be whether to put on nitrogen to promote quick growth, or phosphate, potassium and sulphur (PKS) to maintain soil fertility. The choice will partly depend on cash reserves and partly on the overall fertility status of the farm.

‘Soil tests will show the fertility status of your farm. Note that during a drought, sulphur and potassium soil test results tend to be elevated, because there is little nutrient uptake by the plants and no loss through leaching. Soil tests taken well after the drought has broken will give a more accurate picture of true soil fertility,’ says Mr Catto.

If soil test results show that fertility is below desirable levels, then for the long-term benefit of the farm it will be helpful to apply a PKS fertiliser to raise the levels of any deficient nutrients.

If soil test results show sufficient nutrient levels to meet production goals, then it will be reasonably safe to defer PKS application until next year, and concentrate instead on using nitrogen to boost growth.

After a severe drought it is preferable that nitrogen applications are delayed for two weeks after it has rained as the soil has good reserves of mineralised nitrogen and pastures take time to recover.

‘Immediately following a drought there is a strong desire to boost pasture growth to feed stock. However, it’s important to remember that nitrogen (N) enhances growth; it doesn’t start it. For nitrogen to be of any use there must be some plant growth occurring when it is applied,’ explains Mr Catto.

‘Don’t apply N fertiliser until paddocks have some pasture cover (1000 kg DM/ha). Once you have applied N, spell the paddock for four to six weeks. This will give the N time to have an effect and will also help to minimise the risk of nitrate poisoning.’

For further fertiliser advice or support contact your local Ballance technical sales representative on 0800 222 090.

ENDS

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