More Profit from Nitrogen - Improving dairy farm nitrogen efficiency using advanced technologies

The science of Nitrogen (N) cycling in dairy systems can be poorly understood by dairy farmers and their agronomists, and consequently current farm practice is often to apply N at a set rate based on expected pasture growth. Amounts of N supplied to the pasture through mineralisation, and the variation in this supply over seasons, is not understood sufficiently to influence fertiliser decisions.

This project aims to gain a better understanding of the amount of N supplied through mineralisation to dairy pastures under dryland and irrigated conditions in one of dairy’s largest producing regions, South West Victoria. The findings will be utilised to develop a tool for farmers and advisers which will reliably estimate mineralised available N so that N fertiliser inputs can be adjusted accordingly. Further investigation of new N assessment technologies will also be undertaken. The outcomes of the project will provide opportunities to reduce costly N fertiliser inputs resulting in reduced loss to the environment and increased profit.