Fertilization of Pasture and Range in the United States

Mayland, H.F. (1977) Fertilization of Pasture and Range in the United States. pp. 133-137. In: Proc. 28th Pac. NW Fert. Conf. USA-ID-Twin Falls, 1977/07/12-14.

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Abstract

The importance of the forage resource in the United States is apparent
from the 225-million ha of humid-region pasture, and 122-million ha of arid
rangeland in the Great Plains and Western States.

The objective of this report is to briefly summarize the effect of fertilizer
on yield and forage quality of pasture and range, particularly their
effect on beef production.

In the past 25 years, beef cow herds have replaced both dairy cows and
sheep on many forage-producing areas. The limited forage and range resources
in the semiarid and arid Western States may restrict further expansion of
cow-calf operations, except in areas where irrigated pasture can be developed
or where forage productivity can be increased by fertilization.

Water is less limiting in the Eastern States, assuring more reliable
supplies and potentially greater amounts of forage to support the beef industry.
Thus, cow-calf numbers in some South-Atlantic and North-Central
States have greatly increased.

Most of the cow-calf operation in the southern region and in the Midwest
resemble ranch operations of old, in which inputs and costs are kept as low
as possible. Implementing improved practices (i.e., improved forage varieties,
fertilization, grazing management) would greatly increase beef production in
these areas.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number:	0406
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:56
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2017 20:49
Item ID:	1009
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1009