Articulo
Nitrogen soil budgets in contrasting dairy grazing systems of southern chile, a short-term study
REVISTA DE LA CIENCIA DEL SUELO Y NUTRICION VEGETAL (IMPRESA);
REV CIENC SUELO NUTR VEG (IMPR)
Registro en:
0
D06I1081
D06I1081
WOS:000281150200008
0717-635X
Autor
NUNEZ-RAMOS, PEDRO
ALFARO-YORQUI, CARLOS
DEMANET-FILIPPI, ROLANDO
MORA-GIL, MARIA
Institución
Resumen
In recent years, the intensification of livestock production in Southern Chile has resulted in a high potential for environmental damage through nitrogen (N) losses, creating the need for the evaluation of N flows from these systems. The aim of the research was to determine N budgets and N use efficiency in two grazing systems in Southern Chile. For this, inputs and outputs were measured during one year on two grazing systems (heavy grazing, HG; and light grazing, LG). Also, a control treatment with no grazing (C) was considered. The annual N soil budget was determined by the difference between all N inputs (Sigma inputs) and all N outputs (Sigma outputs). The results of the experiment indicate that HG treatments received the biggest N input (427, 359 and 288 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) for HG, LG and C treatment, respectively), however this treatment also had the biggest N losses (406 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)), with a nitrogen recovery efficiency from fertilizer of 71%. In addition, herbage dry matter yield (DM) was greater in the HG than in the LG and C treatments (10.4; 8.1 and 7.1 t N ha(-1) yr(-1), respectively). Also, N concentration in the forage was higher in this treatment (2.9%) than in the LG (2.7%) and C (2.5%) treatments. The results indicate that HG increases N use efficiency in pastures in Southern Chile, increasing the herbage production and quality, but also increasing the potential for N losses to the wider environment. Farmers should consider this when choosing the appropriate grazing system. Thanks to the grants DIUFRO 160603 (Universidad de La Frontera), FONDECYT 1020934, FONDECYT 1070239, FONDECYT 1061262, FONDEF D06I1081 and FIA (FIA-PI-C-2003-1). Also thanks to the Dominican Government (Dominican Republic Institute of Agricultural and Forest Research) for funding Dr. Pedro Nunez. 1 FONDEF mariluz@ufro.cl DIUFRO (Universidad de La Frontera) [160603]; FONDECYT [1020934, 1070239, 1061262]; FONDEF [D06I1081]; FIA [FIA-PI-C-2003-1]; Dominican Government (Dominican Republic Institute of Agricultural and Forest Research) 2 FONDEF 10