Improve Cattle Farming & Meat Quality: Feed Pastures
- To address nutrient deficiencies observed across agricultural regions, Fertilizar AC introduced the SUMA P program, emphasizing the crucial role of phosphorus in crop development.
- Esteban Ciarlo, the technical coordinator at Fertilizar AC, highlighted phosphorus's pivotal role in determining yield and productivity.
- “Leguminous plants, such as alfalfa or soybeans, require important phosphorus to fix atmospheric nitrogen and self-supply another essential nutrient,” he stated, underscoring the importance of phosphorus in nitrogen...
Optimizing Pasturelands with Phosphorus: A Key to Lasting Livestock Production
Table of Contents
- Optimizing Pasturelands with Phosphorus: A Key to Lasting Livestock Production
- Phosphorus in Pasturelands: optimizing Livestock Production – A Extensive Guide
- Table of Contents
- What is the SUMA P program?
- Why is phosphorus important for livestock production?
- What are the key benefits of phosphorus in pastures?
- How can phosphorus deficiency be identified in soils?
- What innovative practices are used at El Pinar Agropecuaria?
- How does El Pinar manage its land for livestock and agriculture?
- What forages does El Pinar use?
- How is El Pinar addressing soil limitations?
- where can I find more information about SUMA P?
- Table of Contents
To address nutrient deficiencies observed across agricultural regions, Fertilizar AC introduced the SUMA P program, emphasizing the crucial role of phosphorus in crop development. This initiative extends to promoting pasture and grassland fertilization, aiming to boost the productivity of livestock systems nationwide.
Esteban Ciarlo, the technical coordinator at Fertilizar AC, highlighted phosphorus’s pivotal role in determining yield and productivity. He noted that current request rates often fall short of crop requirements and considerably lag behind nutrient extraction levels from harvests, whether grains or forage.
“Leguminous plants, such as alfalfa or soybeans, require important phosphorus to fix atmospheric nitrogen and self-supply another essential nutrient,” he stated, underscoring the importance of phosphorus in nitrogen fixation.
María Alejandra Marino, from the integrated Unit FCA-INTA Balcarce, emphasized the importance of fertilizing pastures as a tool to ensure the sustainability of livestock systems. She highlighted that proper nutrient management in soils intended for pasture production is basic to improving forage quality and maximizing meat production.
Ciarlo and Marino participated in a tour of fields in southeastern Buenos Aires, where the institution shared insights into the critical role of correcting nutritional deficiencies in forage production, aiming to achieve high-quality pasture for livestock feed.
The SUMA P program is a technical response supported by research on phosphorus dynamics in the soil and the impact of its deficiency on crops. It encompasses six thematic areas,including:
- Importance of phosphorus for plants,animals,and humans.
- Diagnosis of soils.
- Best fertilization practices.
The Significance of Phosphorus in Livestock Production
In livestock production, Marino emphasized that proper nutrient management in soils intended for pasture production is fundamental to improving forage quality and maximizing meat production.
“The first thing we must consider is that pastures,like any crop,need nutrients to grow and efficiently utilize the resources offered by the environment,” Marino explained.
“On average, livestock systems in the region produce 3,000 to 6,000 kilos MS/ha/year,”
María Alejandra Marino
She pointed out that phosphorus availability is a common issue in many fields used for livestock. “Soil maps show a clear deficiency,” she clarified.
“On average, livestock systems in the region produce 3,000 to 6,000 kilos MS/ha/year,” Marino noted, highlighting the potential for improvement with adequate phosphorus levels.
“A well-managed pasture can provide 200 to 300 kilos of meat/ha/year. However, if phosphorus is lacking, production can be significantly reduced,” she warned, emphasizing the direct correlation between phosphorus levels and meat production.
Innovative Practices at El Pinar agropecuaria
El Pinar Agropecuaria, located in General Guido, in the Depresión del río Salado region, exemplifies innovative practices in livestock management. This area is a primary breeding ground for livestock in Argentina, albeit with significant limitations.
Ing. Agr. Federico allende, the farm manager, and Federico García balcarce, the person in charge, explained that the property spans 3,700 hectares across three fields. The land is divided with 900 hectares dedicated to agriculture, growing sunflower and corn, while 2,200 hectares are used for a complete cycle livestock system, supporting 1,500 breeding cows with a 95% pregnancy rate.
Federico Allende (left) and Federico Balcarce, amidst the pastures.
The establishment generally relies on a forage base of ryegrass, 80 hectares of alfalfa and fescue, and 400 hectares of *agropiro*, along with other legumes like clover.
El Pinar is an innovative and growing livestock company, conducting an evaluation plot of fescue and *agropiro*, including the use of specific fertilizers and herbicides. This allows for the adjustment of best management practices for both agriculture and livestock, ensuring the sustainability and profitability of the establishment in the long term.
“El Pinar’s soils are complex, with physical and chemical limitations where *agropiro* dominates, a species tolerant to adverse conditions such as flooding, water deficit, and more, producing pasture in environments unsuitable for other forage species,” said María Alejandra Marino.
Esteban Ciarlo added that there is a prejudice that, because thes are low-lying fields affected by salts or sodium, they do not need nutrients because the limitation lies elsewhere.
“In that case, we are also finding positive responses to the addition of nutrients in these environments,” he indicated, highlighting the potential for phosphorus to improve even challenging soils.
For more facts on SUMA P, including details on the characteristics and benefits of phosphorus for crops, visit fertilizar.org.ar.
Phosphorus in Pasturelands: optimizing Livestock Production – A Extensive Guide
Table of Contents
Why is phosphorus critically important for livestock production?
What are the key benefits of phosphorus in pastures?
How can phosphorus deficiency be identified in soils?
What innovative practices are used at El Pinar agropecuaria?
How does El Pinar manage its land for livestock and agriculture?
What forages does El Pinar use?
How is El Pinar addressing soil limitations?
Were can I find more information about SUMA P?
What is the SUMA P program?
The SUMA P program, introduced by Fertilizar AC, is an initiative designed to address nutrient deficiencies in agricultural regions. It emphasizes the crucial role of phosphorus in crop development and promotes pasture and grassland fertilization to improve the productivity of livestock systems. The program includes research on phosphorus dynamics in soil and the impact of deficiencies on crops, covering soil diagnostics and best fertilization practices.
Why is phosphorus important for livestock production?
Phosphorus is essential for several reasons in livestock production:
Forage Quality: Proper nutrient management, particularly phosphorus, in soils intended for pasture production is basic to improving forage quality.
Meat Production: Adequate phosphorus levels directly correlate with increased meat production. A well-managed pasture can yield 200 to 300 kilos of meat per hectare per year,but this can be significantly reduced if phosphorus is lacking.
Nitrogen fixation: Phosphorus is vital for leguminous plants like alfalfa, enabling them to fix atmospheric nitrogen and self-supply this essential nutrient.
What are the key benefits of phosphorus in pastures?
Phosphorus provides several key benefits in pasture management:
Increased Yield and Productivity: Phosphorus plays a pivotal role in determining crop yield and overall productivity in livestock systems.
Improved Forage Quality: Proper phosphorus levels improve the quality and nutritional value of forage, leading to healthier livestock.
lasting Livestock Systems: Fertilizing pastures with phosphorus ensures the sustainability of livestock systems by maintaining soil health and productivity.
How can phosphorus deficiency be identified in soils?
Phosphorus deficiency in soils can be identified through:
Soil Maps: Soil maps frequently enough indicate areas where phosphorus availability is a common issue.
Soil Testing: Regular soil testing helps to diagnose the specific phosphorus levels and nutrient deficiencies.
visual Assessment: While not always definitive, poor plant growth can be an indicator of nutrient deficiencies, including phosphorus.
What innovative practices are used at El Pinar Agropecuaria?
El Pinar Agropecuaria, located in general guido, argentina, exemplifies innovative practices in livestock management, including:
Evaluation Plots: Conducting evaluation plots of fescue and agropiro, including the use of specific fertilizers and herbicides, to determine best management practices.
Adjusting Management Practices: Using data from evaluation plots to fine-tune agricultural and livestock practices, ensuring sustainability and profitability.
nutrient Management: Recognizing and addressing nutrient deficiencies in low-lying fields affected by salts or sodium, where it’s often incorrectly assumed that nutrients are not needed.
How does El Pinar manage its land for livestock and agriculture?
El Pinar spans 3,700 hectares and divides its land use as follows:
Agriculture (900 hectares): Used for growing sunflower and corn.
Livestock System (2,200 hectares): Supports a complete cycle livestock system with 1,500 breeding cows and a 95% pregnancy rate.
What forages does El Pinar use?
El Pinar relies on a variety of forages, including:
ryegrass
Alfalfa (80 hectares)
Fescue
Agropiro (400 hectares)
Clover and other legumes
How is El Pinar addressing soil limitations?
El Pinar addresses soil limitations by:
Utilizing Agropiro: Using agropiro, which is tolerant to adverse conditions like flooding and water deficit, to produce pasture in unsuitable environments for other forage species.
Nutrient Addition: Applying nutrients,including phosphorus,even in low-lying fields affected by salts or sodium,to improve soil health and productivity.
Testing and Evaluation: Continuously evaluating the effects of fertilizers and herbicides on forage growth and adjusting practices accordingly.
where can I find more information about SUMA P?
For further information on SUMA P, including details on the characteristics and benefits of phosphorus for crops, visit fertilizar.org.ar.
Table: Key Aspects of phosphorus in Livestock Production
| Aspect | Description | Benefit |
| :————————— | :——————————————————————————————————————- | :——————————————————————————————————————- |
| role of Phosphorus | Essential nutrient for plant growth and nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants. | Optimizes forage quality and quantity, supporting healthier livestock. |
| SUMA P Program | Initiative by Fertilizar AC to promote phosphorus use in agriculture. | Addresses nutrient deficiencies and improves livestock system productivity. |
| Impact on Meat Production | Directly correlated with meat yield from pastures. | Increases meat production per hectare, enhancing profitability. |
| innovative Practices (El Pinar) | Evaluation plots, tailored fertilization, and use of tolerant species like agropiro*.| Sustainable and profitable livestock management in challenging soil conditions. |
| Identifying Deficiency | Soil maps,soil testing,and visual assessment of plant growth. | Allows for targeted nutrient management and improved soil health. |