Effect of fertilizer nitrogen on yield, nitrogen content and animal productivity of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk on the wet tropical coast of north Queensland

Abstract

Responses to fertilizer nitrogen in Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk were studied in one cutting and two grazing experiments between 1962 and 1971 at South Johnstone (3200 mm mean annual rainfall) in north Queensland. In the cutting experiment the optimum annual nitrogen application rate was 365 kg N ha-1 in terms of dry matter yield and efficiency of use. The main increases in herbage yield from fertilizer nitrogen were recorded during the cool and dry season months (August to January).