confused on soil samples

[little creek]

I have alicia bermuda grass pastures(60 acres). I took samples and had them analyzed. The results came back no lime needed, all other categories on the graph were in the optimun range. I only have six replacement heiffers. I took my paperwork to the fertilizer dealer. He interpretedthe results as needing 300lbs nitrogen to the acre. I only want the grass for summer grazing.
Without any nitrogen added to the pastures, will my heiffers get all that is needed to put on weight and stay healthy?
Thanks, in advance little creek.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I have alicia bermuda grass pastures(60 acres). I took samples and had them analyzed. The results came back no lime needed, all other categories on the graph were in the optimun range. I only have six replacement heiffers. I took my paperwork to the fertilizer dealer. He interpretedthe results as needing 300lbs nitrogen to the acre. I only want the grass for summer grazing.
Without any nitrogen added to the pastures, will my heiffers get all that is needed to put on weight and stay healthy?
Thanks, in advance little creek.

It is all about nutrition. You want to get the protein into the bermuda. I am not familiar with "alicia". I always put the trace minerals in, no matter what the samples say. The minerals are just too cheap not to add. Zinc drives bermuda roots down deep. The results always come back with heavy nitrogen but my luck runs better, the following year, when I balance the fertilizer a bit more than what test results show. Rain water puts a lot of nitrogen into the soil.

Also, I don't let the cows onto the bermuda I cut for hay. They compact the soil a bit too much for my liking. I cut the hay when protein is optimum.

If you just let the grass go, the cows will do just fine. Provided you have enough acres for them. You simply won't be getting optimum nutrition for them. If you got the land to spare, no problem.

Hope this helps. I know nothing about "alicia" but I assume it is similar to other bermudas.

 

[Bill Elliott]

Littlecreek...I'm not the brightest light in the harbor...but 300lbls per acre of N seems a little high to me. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with alicia. Whenever possible, ask your fertilizer provider for "rainbow"...rainbow will have all the nutrients in each "pebble" of fertilizer...including your micronutrients. I submitted 6 soil samples this time around and my hightest N was 90lbs/acre....lowest was 60lbs/acre. Not sure if this means anything now that I think of it...but I'm carrying 6 pairs and I'm putting down between 60 and 90 lbs per acre...plus always having a good mineral bucket in the field..my cows look good...calves always look heathly...plus my pastures are not the "best" in the world...got some weeds in my bahia Tif-9....hope all is well...my calving season just started and I'm on "pins and needles"...but I got jury duty and..oh well you know the story....I walk in the pastures each moring before I leave for the courthouse and rush home each evening to check...so far...no joy....have a great weekend...I'm working in the garden and putting up "moveable" electric fence so I can put my cows on my crimson clover...don't want them to get too much of a "good" thing. Take care...cheers....Bill

 

[Dave]

If the fertilizer dealer means 300 pounds of actual N he is waaaay too high. If he means 300 pounds of a nitrogen fertilizer.... well it will depend on the fertilizer. 300 pounds of 34-0-0 has 102 pounds of actual N in it. It sort of sounds like this salesman wants to sell fertilizer. Show your test results to someone from extension, NRCS, or your conservation district and get an unbias opinion of your fertilizer need.
Dave