Encouraging Autumn Growth

Encouraging Autumn Growth

Peter Burton
26th January 2009


December growth rates on our monitor properties were back to normal or better after slightly lower than usual spring growth.

With cages yet to be cut it is anticipated that January growth will be modest due to rainfall providing less moisture than that lost through evaporation.

Substantial rain early in February can still provide a strong end to the season with total growth for the twelve month period to the end of May being close to or better than normal.

Regardless of when substantial rain arrives there will be a recovery phase prior to strong pasture growth recommencing and the driest soils will take the longest.

Soils are teeming with life and as heat increases and moisture lessens, activity declines. Earthworms retreat deeper into the soil and curl into tight balls. Other beneficial macrobes as well as microbes look simply to survive.

With the onset of rain soils come back to life and the first stage is the rebuilding of populations. Very simply, bugs feed first! Pasture comes next and where DoloZest and CalciZest have been applied and plant roots are at 0.5m or deeper, recovery is likely to be rapid.

The processing of dung and dead material on the surface of the soil will ensure a plentiful supply of nitrogen and the application of nitrogen fertiliser will not speed the recovery process.

It is the ability of plants to manufacture animal usable protein from high quantities of natural nitrogen that will provide strong animal performance.

SeaZest, a high quality total plant food, applied at 5 – 6 litres/ha, as soon as there is reasonable leaf surface area, will speed this conversion process as well as encouraging more total growth.

SeaZest contains all essential plant requirements as well as two naturally occurring growth promotants, giberellin and triacontanol. Plant brix levels will rise, providing more energy for grazing animals with a resultant improvement in palatability.

A high percentage of the plants nutrient requirements enter the plant through the leaf. Should there be a requirement for one or more extra trace elements the addition of these at the time of applying SeaZest is likely to be highly beneficial.

Leaf levels and hence animal intake of both copper and cobalt can be enhanced this way, and the amounts used are substantially less, usually one fifth the rate applied with solid fertiliser.

A foliar application cannot long term replace the major nutrients of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sulphur routinely applied as solid, however immediately after a summer dry spell it is unlikely that these nutrients are in short supply.

Next months article will focus on the key benefits of DoloZest and CalciZest this autumn.
For more information on sustainable long-term production increases call 0800 843 809.