The Distribution of Soil Micro-Nutrients and the Effects on Herbage Micro-Nutrient Uptake and Yield in Three Different Pasture Systems

Pasture micro-nutrient concentrations are often deficient for herbage productivity and the health of livestock. The aim this study was to investigate soil content effects on yield three pasture systems North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP): high-sugar grass + legume mix minus nitrogen (N) fertilizer (blue/HSG L); permanent plus N (green/P N); (red/HSG N). locations with high total had a greater slope higher organic matter (SOM) content. Herbage were at concentrations. concentration uptake nearly all micro-nutrients greatest in green/P system, which highest SOM content, whereas they lowest red/HSG yield, indicating biomass dilution herbage. At concentrations, than low equal across systems, regardless treatment. Variation uptake/yield blue grass–legume system predominantly explained by molybdenum (Mo) concentration, possibly relating requirement Mo biological fixation. There was, therefore, trade-off ploughing re-seeding maintenance being important