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Nitrogen performance indicators for dairy production systems

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  • NSTL
  • Csiro Publishing
Nitrogen (N) is invaluable for maintaining agricultural production, but its use, and particularly inefficient use, can lead to environmental losses. This paper reviews N use efficiency (NUE) and N surplus indicators for dairy production systems to assess their utility for optimising N use outcomes and minimising environmental N losses. Using case-study examples, we also assess realistic goals for these indicators and discuss key issues associated with their use. Published whole-farm NUE and whole-farm N surplus values ranged within 10-65% and 40-700kg N ha(-1) year(-1) respectively. In a study of five catchments across New Zealand, whole-farm NUE was more strongly affected by catchment differences in soil and climatic conditions than by differences in management. In contrast, whole-farm N surplus differed both between- and within-catchments and was a good indicator of N losses to water. Realistic goals for both NUE and N surplus thus depend on the agro-climatic context of the dairy system and on its economic and environmental goals. Crop and animal NUE values can be valuable indicators for optimising fertiliser and feed use and minimising N losses. However, global or national whole-farm NUE values appear of limited value if the ultimate goal for setting targets is to reduce the environmental impact of N use; whole-farm level targets based on N surplus would be a more useful indicator for this purpose. Our review also reinforces the importance of standardising the variables that should be used to estimate NUE and N surplus values, to ensure equitable comparisons between different systems. Finally, NUE and N surplus targets should also be set in the context of other agro-environmental considerations.

animal NUEcrop NUEdairy systemsnitrogen use efficiency (NUE)whole-farm NUE

Monaghan, Ross M.、Alfaro, Marta、Gourley, Cameron J. P.、Oenema, Oene、Powell, J. Mark、de Klein, Cecile A. M.

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AgRes Invermay, Puddle Alley 9053, Mosgiel, New Zealand

Inst Invest Agr INIA, Ctr Reg Invest Remehue, Casilla 24-O, Osorno, Chile

Dept Econ Dev Jobs Transport & Resources, 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank, Vic 3821, Australia

Wageningen Univ, Alterra, POB 47, NL-6700 Wageningen, Netherlands

USDA ARS, US Dairy Forage Res Ctr, Madison, WI 53706 USA

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2017

10.1071/SR16349

Soil Research

Soil Research

EISCI
ISSN：1838-675X
年,卷(期)：2017.55(5/6)
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