When it comes to pasture renewal, thorough preparation is essential. It should begin 6-18 months before the new pasture is sown, to get on top of weed and pest problems, and to correct issues such as compaction, poor drainage, poor fertility and low soil pH.
The land’s fertiliser and crop history will affect the fertiliser required, as will the soil characteristics. To make the best choice of fertiliser you should determine nutrient levels and pH by soil testing, and then apply the required capital fertiliser and lime. If coming out of a crop, use a starter fertiliser, such as DAP (150-200 kg/ha) or cropzeal 16N (250-350 kg/ha), to replace the nutrients that have been removed with the crop.
The timing and method of fertiliser application, and selection of fertiliser product, will be affected by the cultivation method used. For example, if the land is going to be turned over, then fertiliser can be worked in during the final phase of cultivation before sowing, and less nitrogen will be required as some will be released by the breakdown of organic matter. If it is going to be direct drilled, then fertiliser can be broadcast 3 weeks before sowing, or applied at the same time as drilling. The type of fertiliser used when direct drilling will depend on whether fertiliser is being applied “down the spout”, where seed burn could be an issue, or at a distance from the seed (i.e. using a cross-slot drill).
It’s common practice to use a starter fertiliser when sowing a crop such as maize or brassicas, yet this practice is not always followed when sowing pasture. However, grass is a crop too, and providing it with the necessary nutrients at sowing will greatly aid establishment and persistence.
Nitrogen is an important tool in building new pastures, to encourage greater tillering and leaf expansion, leading to faster leaf cover. This will suppress germinating weeds. Also, it takes 12-18 months for nitrogen produced by clover to become available, so adequate fertiliser in this period is important. Light applications of 30-40 kg N/ha (65-85 kg/ha SustaiN Green) after each grazing will aid seedling establishment. The first application can go on 6-8 weeks after drilling. Light dressings of nitrogen should also be applied after each grazing..
Continue to graze carefully for a year after sowing and spell in summer if the soil becomes too dry for active growth. Apply maintenance fertiliser to maintain vigorous growth; a well-established new pasture will yield higher levels of dry matter per hectare, and so will require a higher rate of maintenance fertiliser to support this, usually for the first 3-4 years. Talk to your Ballance rep for more specific advice.
