This trial highlighted that BioAg’s Balance & Grow along with gibberellic acid were key ingredients to maximising winter production, while the addition of nitrogen improved yield again, but was not as cost effective.
Trials were conducted in 2016 across four Australian states.
Summary of findings:
- Balance & Grow + GA + N produced the greatest dry matter yield (+22kgDM/day)
- Balance & Grow + GA produced the greatest return on investment (+20kgDM/day)
Trial Background
In the winter of 2016, BioAg agronomists ran a series of trials investigating the optimisation of winter pasture growth and developing a winter-feed wedge.
The trials were conducted in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales over predominantly improved pastures (mainly ryegrass and phalaris base).
Trials measured dry matter (DM) responses along with quality (protein and metabolisable energy).
Combinations of Balance & Grow (B&G), Gibberellic Acid (GA) and Nitrogen (N) were tested against a nil treatment.
These products were applied separately, as well as in various combinations, with the idea of evaluating what combination provided the most value in terms of dry matter production and overall feed test.
Trial Results
Comparing the results from each trial site, the most effective combination for producing dry matter was Balance & Grow with GA and N.
This gave an extra 22kg DM growth per day over the treatment period (average of 32 days over the June/July months).
The best individual treatment (over all plots in all states) was a B&G with GA treatment in Northern NSW, which grew over 2 tonnes/ha of extra dry matter over that of the nil treatment.
Both these combinations (B&G/GA/N and B&G/GA) produced statistically significant growth compared to the nil treatment.
All treatments gave a positive result over the nil treatment.
Cost per Hectare
The 3-way mix of B&G, GA and N gave the greater yield, but was also the most costly on a per hectare basis ($42.50) for 22kgDM per day of growth.
The B&G/GA treatment only cost $24.50 per ha to give a very similar result (an additional 20kgDM per day over the period of the trial).
Winter feed pasture trial results 2016
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