Fall Fertilizing

[dt34715]

Does anyone fertilize their pasture in the fall?

What do you use and what rates?

 

[shaz]

I did back in 2009 because moisture was really good and I could get ammonium nitrate for 330/ton. Spread 60lbs acre actual and felt like it was a break even deal.

 

[dun]

Some years yes if there is moisture. About 30 lbs/acre of nitrogen for the fall growth for stockpiling.

 

[dt34715]

any potash????

 

[dun]

Just N in the fall. Then in the spring we put on all the rest along with N.

 

[tom4018]

We put a lot of litter on in the fall. Have also put fertilizer on in the fall. For me one thing I like about it fact that I can go across the ground with a lighter buggy in the spring when the ground is softer. I was always told the P and K were ok to do in the fall and would actually help the root system.

 

[bird dog]

I put out about 100 lbs per acre of a 30-10-10 on a pasture that I had sprigged with Bermuda in the spring. I was somewhat disappointed in the sprigs so I wanted to help them out. I think it made a lot of difference as the pasture came on real strong this year and the Bermuda came on in places where I didn't think it took hold last year. I am sure the timely moisture helped a lot.

 

[Dave]

The amount depends of soils test but if I need P or K it goes on in the fall. Most of the P used by grasses is in root growth and in cool season grasses there is a lot of root growth in the fall. K doesn't leach away and is used by the plants all the time so I put it on so it is there for the plants. I only put N on shortly before the plants need it for growth because it will certainly leach out of the soil. If I do fall applications of N it is a pretty light amount because with the heavy winter rains I get and lack of plant growth during the winter the N will be gone by spring.

 

[talltimber]

Some years yes if there is moisture. About 30 lbs/acre of nitrogen for the fall growth for stockpiling.

dun, do you bush hog your pastures in late summer, fertilize, then begin your stockpiling? Reason I ask is, while I'm operating at about half of my carrying capacity currently, I was attempting to stockpile all year. I have a pasture that I had intended to grow all year, except for grazing 6 cows the past month or so, and it got so rank I went ahead and bush hogged it. It was hard for me to bush hog all the thick grass down in there, but weeds and thorns were getting too rank in areas. There is another pasture, hay ground for next year, that I've poisoned the thorns and bush hogged the worst areas. Otherwise I'm letting it go, to run the pairs on until early spring when I will move them, bush hog the stems, fertilize and make hay off of it. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

 

[dun]

Some years yes if there is moisture. About 30 lbs/acre of nitrogen for the fall growth for stockpiling.

dun, do you bush hog your pastures in late summer, fertilize, then begin your stockpiling? Reason I ask is, while I'm operating at about half of my carrying capacity currently, I was attempting to stockpile all year. I have a pasture that I had intended to grow all year, except for grazing 6 cows the past month or so, and it got so rank I went ahead and bush hogged it. It was hard for me to bush hog all the thick grass down in there, but weeds and thorns were getting too rank in areas. There is another pasture, hay ground for next year, that I've poisoned the thorns and bush hogged the worst areas. Otherwise I'm letting it go, to run the pairs on until early spring when I will move them, bush hog the stems, fertilize and make hay off of it. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

We either brush hog it or graze it short. Learned years ago that just leaving standing grass impedes the fall growth that is needed to have quality stockpiled forage.

 

[greybeard]

dun, do you bush hog your pastures in late summer, fertilize, then begin your stockpiling? Reason I ask is, while I'm operating at about half of my carrying capacity currently, I was attempting to stockpile all year. I have a pasture that I had intended to grow all year, except for grazing 6 cows the past month or so, and it got so rank I went ahead and bush hogged it. It was hard for me to bush hog all the thick grass down in there, but weeds and thorns were getting too rank in areas. There is another pasture, hay ground for next year, that I've poisoned the thorns and bush hogged the worst areas. Otherwise I'm letting it go, to run the pairs on until early spring when I will move them, bush hog the stems, fertilize and make hay off of it. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

We either brush hog it or graze it short. Learned years ago that just leaving standing grass impedes the fall growth that is needed to have quality stockpiled forage.

That makes sense, even tho we can't stockpile our primary grass (Bahia) here--once it gets cold, it's done.
But about this time of year (or maybe mid Sept) the grass that is here gets so tough and dry the cattle just nibble at it but I found if I mow it, (and then get rain) it will put on new growth pretty good and the cows will have a feast till first frost.

I'm not going to fertilize this fall but am going to put down lime.