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N, P and K on organic farms: herbage and cereal production, purchases and sales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. M. Fowler ,
C. A. Watson  and
D. Wilman
S. M. Fowler
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
C. A. Watson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
D. Wilman
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD, UK
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Summary

Yields of dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in herbage and cereals from fields representing different stages of the rotation were recorded on two organic farms in 2 years. Amounts of N, P and K purchased and sold were also recorded on these farms.

Some additional data was obtained from three other organic farms. Herbage production was very satisfactory, whether fields were grazed or cut. The proportion of clover in sown swards was, in most cases, satisfactory to high, but the clover content was very low in a few fields. The yields of cereals were about equal to or below the average obtained on farms using fertilizer and other agrochemical inputs. Manure was normally applied to the leys, which were the fertility-building part of the rotation, rather than to the cereal crops. Leaching of K from manure heaps was considerable.

Purchases of N, P and K (mainly in manure) seemed excessive on one of the farms. On one of the farms studied in less detail, less P and K were purchased than were sold. More attention could be given to the balance between purchases and sales of N, P and K and to the efficient conversion of N into saleable produce.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 120 , Issue 3 , June 1993 , pp. 353 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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