The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition

Abstract

Grassland production in southern Australia is generally based on phosphorus (P)- and nitrogen (N)-deficient soils. Use of P-fertiliser is necessary for high production in higher rainfall zones and economic pressures are increasing the need to apply fertiliser more widely and consistently. The P and N requirements of 10 temperate pasture species were examined to understand how increased fertiliser use will affect grassland botanical composition. The plant species fell into 2 main groups with respect to their critical external P requirements (P application rates required to achieve 90% of maximum yield) : those with a high requirement (Trifolium subterraneum, Hordeum leporinum, Bromus molliformis, Microlaena stipoides, and Phalaris aquatica), and those with a low requirement (Lolium rigidum, Vulpia spp., Austrodanthonia richardsonii, and Holcus lanatus). The critical external N requirements of H. leporinum, L. rigidum, and B. molliformis were significantly higher than those of A. richardsonii, Arctotheca calendula, and H. lanatus. Species that ‘tolerate’ nutrient stress were relatively abundant in unfertilised grazing systems and tall ‘competitor’ species were dominant in fertilised pasture under low grazing pressure. The abundance of the species present in fertilised pastures grazed for high utilisation was negatively correlated with their relative growth rates and it is hypothesised that this may indicate that abundance was determined by tolerance or avoidance of grazing.