Exploring options to reduce nitrogen leaching while maintaining profitability within a Canterbury farm business comprising several distinct enterprises

Authors

  • Pierre C Beukes DairyNZ
  • Taisekwa Chikazhe DairyNZ
  • J Paul Edwards DairyNZ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2018.80.324

Abstract

This paper reports on a study evaluating the effects of nitrogen (N) mitigations on N leaching and profitability across all hectares of a farm business consisting of a dairy platform, dairy support and beef blocks. Two different models were used, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Mitigation options focussed on N fertiliser use, plantain-ryegrass-clover diverse pastures, cropping regime, and animal and feed movements between the blocks. A combination of less N fertiliser, replacing kale with fodder beet for wintering to reduce the crop area, an oats catch-crop following autumn-harvested fodder beet, diverse pastures on a proportion of platform and support blocks, and wintering non-pregnant cows on the beef block reduced N leaching by 19%. Profitability was not affected by these mitigations. Profitability did not increase, but N leaching did, when changing to an all-dairy business model. Nitrogen leaching reductions can be achieved if all enterprises implement some or all of these mitigations.

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Author Biography

Pierre C Beukes, DairyNZ

Senior Scientist

Feed & Farm Systems

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Published

2018-12-04

How to Cite

Beukes, P. C., Chikazhe, T., & Edwards, J. P. (2018). Exploring options to reduce nitrogen leaching while maintaining profitability within a Canterbury farm business comprising several distinct enterprises. Journal of New Zealand Grasslands, 80, 191–194. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2018.80.324

Issue

Section

Vol 80 (2018)