Higher yield due to distributed fertilizer application

De Boerenbusiness Roughage Tour follows 10 plots of maize and grass spread across the Netherlands this year. Every week we ask 1 of the participating dairy farmers about his vision and approach for the upcoming growing season. This week it is Joost van Nostrum, dairy farmer in Sint-Oedenrode (Brabant).

The growing season is starting, how are the plots of the roughage tour?
The fields are still relatively wet for the time of year. In the meantime they are starting to color nicely and the growth is starting to come in. I gave some of the plots a starting gift before the rainfall of 3 weeks ago (week 10). This gives them an advantage over the rest and a divided gift seems to ensure a higher yield. Last Thursday (week 13) I administered the second gift and the full gift on the other plots. Next week I hope to be able to start with the maize fields, which currently still have a green manure crop. I first mill it to pieces, then apply 45 m3 of slurry and plow everything under.”

Past years were very dry, how are you going to tackle that this year?
''We have all the facilities for quick and easy irrigation. This is also necessary, because we are on sandy soil with a strong disturbing layer, at a depth of about 2,5 meters. This layer ensures that no water is allowed through and so in a wet autumn the soil has to dry up from above, which often takes a very long time. In the dry periods there is no capillary effect due to this layer and there is nothing else to do than irrigate a lot. As soon as the crop demands it, both the grass and maize plots, we start irrigating."

Another important factor is the variety choice, which varieties did you choose this year?
''We opted for the Havera 4 mixture for grass. The high-yielding variety, with good quality, suits our intensive business operations. The choice of maize is based on the same reasons. The LG31.214 is a fairly early variety, which means that undersowing is not necessary. The combination between the high KVEM per hectare and good cell wall digestibility is decisive for me to choose the 214.” 

What is the reason that you participate in the Roughage Tour and what do you expect from it?
''I worked at LG as a roughage specialist and that's how I got involved in the Roughage Tour. Sharing knowledge and learning from other dairy farmers is the reason for me to participate. It went well last year and I hope to experience it again this year.” 

Erik van der Deure

e.vanderdeure@boerenbusiness. Nl

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