Nitrate is the form of nitrogen that plant roots take up from the soil. It is transported to the leaves where it is eventually converted into protein. When plants are stressed or injured this process is interrupted and excess nitrates accumulate. Drought, hot dry winds, hail, or frost can result in high nitrate levels. Even cool, cloudy weather can cause the problem.
Annual forage crops tend to accumulate greater amounts of nitrates than perennial forages. Oats and millet and can be particularly troublesome. Several weedy species (see list below) will also accumulate nitrate if appropriate conditions exist. Never assume a particular crop will be safe. If there has been a stress and soil nitrate is expected to be high, have a nitrate test conducted by a lab.
Nitrates accumulate over time in an injured or damaged crop. Typically, the highest accumulations will occur 2-3 days after the injury or stress. It is best to cut or harvest the crop within 1 day of the damage. Nitrate levels will gradually decline 10-14 days after the injury as the plant resumes growth and repairs itself. Plants killed by the injury or stress will not be able to decrease their nitrate levels.
What levels of nitrate are safe to feed to [livestock]?
For more information regarding nitrate poisoning and feeding high nitrate feeds to livestock, I encourage you to check out the links listed below!
Posted by Braden Campbell at 8:00am October 23, 2018 Posted in Forages and Pasture, Health and tagged Forages and Pasture, Health, Management. Bookmark the permalink.