Study of the relationships between forage productivity, quality, legume fixed nitrogen and soil fertility on organic dairy farms and approaches to overcome edaphic limitations.

本研究的主要目的是调查长期有机和过渡奶牛场的饲料生产力和质量之间的联系，以及它与这些农场土壤肥力的关系。土壤肥力对支持豆科植物很重要，豆科植物在提供高质量饲料的同时向土壤中提供氮。我们还想证明，在不使用合成矿物磷肥的情况下，可以提高土壤磷有效性和豆科植物的生物固氮。该项目旨在记录有机管理下饲料管理和土壤养分的可持续性，并为有机生产者提供管理策略，以保持其饲料和牲畜生产力。具体研究目标是确定有机和过渡农场的牧草生产力、质量、植物组成与豆科植物固定氮和土壤肥力状况之间的关系。此外，我们的目标是评估和制定策略，以克服任何土壤的生物或化学限制，以维持饲料豆科植物固氮。迄今为止，在加拿大还没有研究表征有机乳制品下的饲料质量和植物成分以及与农场管理和农场成分P状态的关系。希望我们能找出办法，使生产者在其生产系统的这一关键方面保持可持续发展。我们的总体目标是制定创新战略，以提高有机奶牛场的饲料质量和生产力。

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the link between productivity and quality of forage on long term organic and transitional dairy farms and how it relates to the fertility of soils on these farms. Soil fertility is important to support legumes that will supply nitrogen back into the soil while providing for high quality feed. We also want to show that improving soil phosphorus availability and legume biological nitrogen fixation can be achieved without the use of synthetic mineral phosphorus fertilizers. The project is designed to document the sustainability of forage management and soil nutrients under organic management and to provide management strategies for organic producers to maintain their forage and therefore livestock productivity. The specific research objectives are to determine the relationship between forage productivity, quality, botanical composition and legume fixed N and soil fertility status, on organic and transitional farms. In addition, we aim to evaluate and develop strategies to overcome any soil biological or chemical limitations to maintaining forage legume nitrogen fixation. No studies to date in Canada have characterized forage quality and botanical composition under organic dairying and the relationship to farm management and P status of farm components. It is hoped that we will identify options for producers to remain sustainable in this critical aspect of their production system. Our overall goal is to develop innovative strategies for improving forage quality and productivity on organic dairy farms.