![]() may supply an additional 15 to 30 pounds of nitrogen per year depending on cow numbers and frequency of grazing. The cycling of nitrogen from urine, manure, dead plants, etc. If you have noticed lush, dark green growth surrounding manure and urine spots in your pastures, this is an indication of nitrogen deficiency.Ī 30 percent stand of legume in the pasture can supply 30 to 50 pounds of nitrogen per year to the grasses in the pasture. Nitrogen and moisture are the main factors which limit pasture growth. Measured pasture yield increases of 400% or more have been noted in past research. If your current pasture production is less than desired, applying nitrogen fertilizer can increase pasture yields dramatically. To maintain optimum soil fertility, a producer would want to use fertilizers or manure to replace these nutrients. Each ton of dry matter removed per acre from a legume-grass pasture will also remove about 12 pounds of P 2O 5 and 48 pounds of K 2O. Taking a cutting of hay on some of the pasture acres to help regulate growth is a normal practice for many graziers. Since the timing of phosphorus and potassium applications is not critical, they can be applied separately, together, or in combination with nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, based on estimated dry matter removal, fertilize accordingly to maintain optimum levels of phosphorus and potassium. Thus, due to nutrient recycling, each ton of dry matter removed per acre from a legume-grass pasture actually removes about 2 pounds of P 2O 5 and 10 pounds of K 2O. The fertilizer recommendation for a legume-grass pasture with a yield of 4.1 to 5.0 tons of dry matter per acre is 60 pounds of P 2O 5 and 240 pounds of K 2O. In an intensively grazed pasture, on the other hand, over 80% of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are recycled back to the pasture. Each ton of dry matter removed per acre from the field as alfalfa hay also removes about 12 to 15 pounds of P 2O 5 and 55 to 60 pounds of K 2O. Phosphorus and PotassiumĪ grazing situation is different than a haying situation. Regardless of when you sample, it is best to be consistent from one year to the next. ![]() Another benefit of fall testing is that fertilizer prices are more likely to be discounted then. To receive your recommendations early enough to enable you to apply the lime and fertilizer needed, it may be best to sample in the fall. Studies examining that effect of sampling time on soil test results suggest that test values for pH, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are typically slightly higher in early spring samples than in fall samples. Take soil samples at any convenient time. Fields where high value specialty crops are grown and those that are more susceptible to changes in nutrient levels, such as those with sandy soils, should be sampled more frequently. Excessive levels of potassium can contribute to grass tetany or milk fever in grazing cattle.įor field crops, sampling the soil once every 3 to 4 years or once in a rotation is sufficient. ![]() Phosphorus can runoff into streams and lakes, fueling algae blooms. Also, soil testing helps to prevent developing excessive levels of phosphorus and potassium. Soil testing helps you apply fertilizers where they are needed, and avoids areas where they are not needed. We should be able to change your PH by 1 % with a quart to the acre in less than 7 days.Since a regular nutrient management program has been an often-neglected practice for grazing, soil tests should be used to accurately determine phosphorus, potassium, and lime needs. And provide you your plants and soil with carbon for an extra boost adding calcium alone will never give you. Much lower application rates than other products on the market. The only liquid calcium on the market with carbon to feed your microbes and soil at the same time as raising your PH for as low as $15.00 per acre. We decided to change our formula and add Carbon.
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