The West End News

Nitrogen Increase Grass Yields
Virgin Islands Agricultural Program News

Heavy applications of nitrogen have been found to increase pasture grass yields.
The results of recent studies on fertilizing pasture grasses on good soil show the importance of using fertilizer as an aid in pasture crop production.
Four selected sod grasses are being grown with different amounts of nitrogen. As both Pangola and Coastal Bermuda grass are adapted to our climate it is of interest to note their behavior when grown at different nitrogen levels. Where no fertilizer was applied Pangola grass made 2.5 tons of dry matter in a year. The use of 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year applied (as ammonium sulfate), twice annually, doubled the yield. A further increase in yield was obtained when 300 pounds of nitrogen was used.
On the same soil, Coastal Bermuda grass made 4.0 tons of dry matter when unfertilized. Its yield likewise almost doubled through the use of 150 pounds of nitrogen. These results show that increased yields of forage grasses may be obtained under local conditions through the use of fertilizer.

Higher yields per acre mean that the same amount of forage can be produced on less acreage. Fencing and providing watering facilities are two major costs to the livestock farmer.
Money spent for these items on extended acreage could be used just as well—perhaps on the purchase and use of fertilizer for a smaller pasture.
The use of fertilizers on pastures should become a common practice in the Virgin Islands, as it would undoubtedly pay in many cases.