A PASTURE HANDBOOK 57 



equal in size; (2) heavy applications of fertilizers, especially nitrogen; 

 (3) separation of the herd mto 2 groups — producers and nonproducers, 

 or into 3 groups — high, low, and nonproducers; and (4) rotation 

 grazmg with the groups following each other in the order named so 

 that the most productive animals get the "cream" of the grazing. 



In this system of pasture management the herbage is to be grazed 

 when it is young and tender and has a liigh protein content. If the 

 animals available for grazing are not sufficient to keep the grasses 

 and legumes short during the flush growth of early summer, then 1 

 or 2 paddocks are mowed for hay. 



The number of days that each group remains on a pasture depends 

 on the growth of the grass and may vary from 2 to 4 days, sometimes 

 more. The faster the growth the fewer the days that each group 

 remains on a pasture. After the last group has been moved from the 

 pasture it is a good practice to scatter the droppings. 



The original Hohenheim plan called for four applications of nitro- 

 gen during the year ; one half to go on in February and the remainder 

 in May, June, and July. Ammonium sulphate or nitrate of soda was 

 used for the February application but urea, a concentrated nitrog- 

 enous fertilizer, appeared to be more effective during the summer 

 months. In addition to the nitrogen, phosphate and potash were 

 applied late in the fall and lime was added once in 6 years. The 

 total annual application of fertilizer at the beginning was equivalent 

 to 500 pounds of sulphate of ammonia, 260 pounds of superphosphate, 

 and 200 pounds of 40-percent potash salts. Later the phosphate and 

 potash applications were reduced but the nitrogen remained the same. 



It is obvious that an intensive system of pasture management like 

 the Hohenheim is better adapted to European countries where the 

 rainfall is well distributed and the summers are cool; both of these 

 factors contribute to a uniform level of production during the grazing 

 season. Applications of nitrogen are not utilized effectively except 

 in the presence of soil moisture. 



The Hohenheim system was under investigation from 1928 to 1935 

 at the Beltsville Research Center, Beltsville, Md. 



This work showed an increase of 10.4 percent in feed production 

 due to rotation grazing and a further increase of 16.4 percent in pro- 

 duction due to the fertilizers applied. The claim that rotation grazing 

 in itself results in more uniform grazing of the herbage was not sup- 

 ported. It was concluded that fencing and other costs incident to 

 the division of the pasture into six separate fields must be kept very 

 low in order to make rotation grazing by dairy cattle a profitable 

 practice. The cost of heavy application of fertilizer in this investiga- 

 tion exceeded the value of the additional pasturage due to fertiliza- 

 tion. One reason for this result was that common lespedeza came 

 into the unfertilized pasture and increased the yields, while in the 

 fertilized pastures the growth of legumes was suppressed. Mid- 

 summer applications of nitrogen were poorly utilized. It is evident 

 that much good judgment must be exercised in the fertilization of 

 pastures as to the kinds and quantities to apply and the methods and 

 times of application. Since the proper practices vary with the soil 

 and climate and perhaps other factors, it is suggested that the advice 

 of the State agricultural college be obtained before applying fertilizers 

 to pastures, 



