Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive overview of grassland nitrogen incorporating information from crop science, soils and fertilizers, ruminant consumption and environmental aspects. The published information is reviewed on the various transformations of nitrogen in temperate grassland systems. These include those taking place in soils. The effects of soil, weather and management practices are discussed and considerable emphasis is placed on soil-plant-animal interactions. A second aim of the book is to describe the factors that influence the response of grassland to the application of fertilizer nitrogen, and how the optimum rate of application may be determined. In addition, nitrogen balances are described for different grassland systems, showing how the annual inputs and outputs vary greatly depending on sward type and management. The book is of interest to a wide readership, especially those engaged in research, teaching and advisory work, and students taking courses in agricultural
Table of Contents1: Grasses: uptake of nitrogen and effects on morphology and physiology 2: Legumes: biological nitrogen fixation and interaction with grasses 3: Consumption, digestion and excretion of nitrogen by ruminant livestock 4: Amounts, sources and fractionation of organic nitrogen in soils 5: Mineralization, immobilization and availability of nitrogen in soils 6: Leaching of nitrogen from soils 7: Volatilization of ammonia 8: Volatilization of gaseous nitrogen and nitrogen oxides through denitrification and nitrification 9: Use of fertilizer nitrogen and slurry nitrogen on grasslands: recovery and response 10: Response to fertilizer nitrogen: influence of sward type, pattern of fertilizer application and method of harvesting 11: Response to fertilizer nitrogen: influence of weather, seasonal factors and soil type 12: Response to fertilizer nitrogen: influence of type of fertilizer and supplies of other nutrients 13: Influence of fertilizer nitrogen on the composition and nutritional quality of grassland herbage 14: Nitrogen balances in contrasting grassland systems
