Intensification of forage production in Vologda region

This three-year project started in 2016 in Vologda, the key region for milk production in North-West of Russia. It has a special focus on the intensification of northern forage production for dairy farms. The intensification consists of more intensive cutting, combined with applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in optimized rates and time to meet needs of management for higher content of crude protein and soluble sugars. In addition, the most important forage quality parameters are monitored such as Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), NDF Digestibility, ensiling qualities, and nitrates. The project goals are as follows: 1) Determine real nutrient removal coefficients for highly productive forages; 2) Determine the optimal number and time of cuttings; and 3) Optimization of rates and time of fertilizer applications to meet both high productivity and forage quality as well as low production cost. The project includes on-field trials conducted on an Umbric Albeluvisols soil (WRB, 2006) with low content of organic matter (OM) (>2%) and elevated plant-available P (101 to 150 ppm) and K (121 to 170 ppm). Trials were conducted on a leading regional dairy farm which has 2,600 ha of crop area under forages and 4,110 cows. The project design included two treatments: 1) Farmer practice (FP) and 2) Optimized fertilization (OF). In both treatments the same highly productive forage mixture seeds were planted in 2016.

In 2017, plots received two fertilizer rates. The first was FP which included 68 kg N/ha at the beginning of vegetation growth in spring, and 68 kg N/ha after first cut. The second rate was OF which included 80 kg N/ha in the beginning of vegetation in spring, and 80, 50, and 50 kg N/ha after first, second, and third cuts. In spite of unfavorable weather conditions, low temperatures and excess rains, higher N rates split into four applications, with more intensive cutting, resulted in a significant increase in both productivity and quality of forages in the OF treatment. The yield of green mass for the OF treatment was 67 t/ha (four cuts), while for FP only 47 t/ha (three cuts). Corresponding yield of dry matter was 10 and 8.3 t/ha. The quality of forages was improved in the OF treatment as well. Average yield of green mass for this farm in 2017 was only 19 t/ha for two cuts for the season. For the OF treatment, forage productivity was more than tripled over average productivity for this farm. In spite of increased production cost/ha due to higher N rates and increased number of cuts in OF treatment, the economics of forage and silage production have been substantially improved. Production cost per kg of forage grass and silage was lower than targeted by the farm.