The nutritive value, yield and botanical composition of irrigated pastures as influenced by nitrogen fertilising

Abstract

The performances of grass and grass/legume swards at three levels of nitrogen were compared under irrigation over a three-year period. The swards were grazed by dairy cows and the influence of nitrogen on dry matter yield, protein content, protein yield and botanical composition was measured.

Keywords: treatments|swards|grazing|dairy cows|dry matter yields|proteins|nutrient contents|fertilisation|Orange Free State|nitrogen|pastures|irrigated farmlands|botanical compositions|yields|nutritive values|legumes|grasses