Applying fertilisers containing nitrogen and sulphur means the grass uses nitrogen more effectively, you get more kgs of dry matter per kg of nitrogen that you apply
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Silage mineral testing is usually carried out to calculate livestock mineral supplementation rates. Simple interpretation of your mineral analysis can also shine a light on a particular problem, such as poor yields or low silage protein.
Nitrogen (N) – Disappointing grass yields combined with a low N % (and protein %) on the report, even though the grass was cut with high to medium proportion of leaf to stem, could be symptomatic of sub-optimal N applications. This is not surprising since N is required to facilitate growth through chlorophyll production and build plant proteins.
Sulphur (S) – Your silage should have an S % of more than 0.25 %, and an N:S ratio of between 10:1 and 13:1. The N:S ratio is calculated by dividing the N % by the S%. S is associated with plant N uptake and is a building block of plant proteins. Any deficiency is usually not noticeable in the grass before harvest, but low yields and lower proteins levels are associated with low sulphur.
The essential amino acids cysteine and methionine are usually low in S deficient grass. Potassium (K) – Low K % (< 2 %) in silage might indicate that the crop didn’t receive enough K. Low grass yields and poor responses to N can often be associated with poor K crop nutrition. Soil test if you haven’t done so and apply K as per recommendations (RB 209).
Regular testing and analysis are essential to get the best from your silage crop.
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