Polysulphate Organic Grass and Clover Trial

21.4

Crude Protein Increase
Polysulphate increased the crude protein production by 21.4%, and the net energy lactation (NEL) of the forage by 11.1% in a mixed organic grass and clover pasture.

Winterswijk, The Netherlands
2021

Trail

21.4

Crude Protein Increase

Key Conclusions

Polysulphate increased the crude protein production by 21.4% and the forage net energy lactation (NEL) by 11.1% in organic grass and clover pastures in the Netherlands.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Polysulphate on the yield and quality of a mixed organic pasture (grass and clover) grown on sandy soil in the Netherlands.

Trial Details

Trial station

Winterswijk, The Netherlands

Crop

Grass

Product

Polysulphate®

Assessments

Dry matter yield, feed unit milk (VEM), Net Energy Lactation (NEL), and crude protein

Treatments

  • The trial consisted of eight strips of mixed red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) grass pasture.
  • Each 6 × 50 meter strip received 20 t/ha of cattle slurry on the 5th of March, before the first cut, and 17.5 t/ha of cattle slurry on the 9th of June, before the second cut.
  • Strips 2, 4, 6 and 8 were also treated before the first cut with 227 kg/ha of granular Polysulphate, on 26th of February.
  • The 1st cut of the grass and clover was made on 28 May 2021, and the 2nd cut was on 24 June 2021.

The grass and clover from each strip was weighed and analysed.

Treatments

  • The trial consisted of eight strips of mixed red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) grass pasture.
  • Each 6 × 50 meter strip received 20 t/ha of cattle slurry on the 5th of March, before the first cut, and 17.5 t/ha of cattle slurry on the 9th of June, before the second cut.
  • Strips 2, 4, 6 and 8 were also treated before the first cut with 227 kg/ha of granular Polysulphate, on 26th of February.
  • The 1st cut of the grass and clover was made on 28 May 2021, and the 2nd cut was on 24 June 2021.

The grass and clover from each strip was weighed and analysed.

Results

  • Polysulphate application increased the crude protein production by 21.4%. This is the result of a 10.8% increase in dry matter and a 9.6% increase in crude protein content.
  • The net energy lactation (NEL) of the forage increased by 11.1% with Polysulphate application.

 

Yield and quality of the forage, 1st + 2nd cuts
Dry matterCrude proteinCrude proteinFeed unit milkNet Energy Lactation
kg/hag/kg dry matterkg/haKVEM/ha*MJ/ha
Control 6,723 146 982 6,042 41,690 
Control + Polysulphate 7,452 160 1,192 6,713 46,320 
Increase+10.8%+9.6%+21.4%+11.1%+11.1%
*1 KVEM = 6.9 MJ NEL 

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