The results from this study demonstrated that municipal solid waste (MSW) compost could provide the same yields of timothy/red clover on dykelands as chemical sources of N, and higher yields than solid manure. If an inorganic N fertilizer is to be used, 95 kg of N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ is sufficient to provide optimal forage yields on dykelands in Atlantic Canada. There is no yield advantage for using 190 kg vs. 95 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ from inorganic fertilizer. These results and other reports suggest that in permanent forage on dykelands systems residual NO₃–N may be concentrated in the top 0 to 20 cm which lowers the probability for NO₃–N leaching into the groundwater. Overall, the highest NO₃–N and NH₄–N concentrations were found in the top 20-cm depth, and least in the 20- to 80-cm depth. In this experiment, fertility did not have an effect on residual NO₃–N or on forage quality (ADF, NDF, and energies). It was found that gypsum may have a greater effect on the distribution of NO₃–N in the soil profile than fertility in forage cropping systems on dykelands. Gypsum application calculated to provide 40 kg total S ha⁻¹increased forage yields and N and S uptake, and did not induce soil or tissue Mg deficiency. Results demonstrated that MSW compost can be used as a source of N and can provide sufficient S and other nutrients to timothy/red clover mix on dykelands.

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