High P and low K

[pappy6]

Need some advice...recently rented some additional pasture/hay ground. When soil test came back, they showed good ph...6.5..but very high P value and very low K. I want to help the fescue/clover that has thinned and plan to overseed fescue and ryegrass in Sept/Oct.

Where i need advice/help...I love to use broiler litter but with high p and low k will the imbalance cause growth problems when I apply enough litter to bring the k to recommended levels (60 lb/acre recommended) ? Last litter that I had spread was tested at 60-50-45.

Thanks for any recommendations/advice. I called fertilizer dealer and he recommended 60-0-50 at $67/acre applied. :frowns:

 

[novatech]

The biggest negative is the phosphorous runoff and contamination. The grass only needs a certain amount. Potassium is a little different in that the grass does not regulate it's consumption. The more you put on the more the grass will take in. So it is hard to keep up with.
I would use a forage that likes a lot of P. Clover during the cooler months would be great. As far as the litter is concerned I would opt for the chemical and add according to recommendations and forgo the litter for a while.

 

[pappy6]

Thanks Novatech...you have always given excellent advice/experience. I did seed some Advantage ladino clover in March which got off to a slow start but came on later in spring and with the moisture and milder summer looks good. I didn't say above but planned to put 2lb acre of Dutch white seed in
with the fescue/ryegrass fall seeding. I was leaning to the chemical so appreciate your help.
Is there a preferred variety of ryegrass for grazing?

 

[shaz]

I'm just north of you and have the same problem so I'm using commercial fertilizer.

 

[pappy6]

Thanks Shaz for the reply...do you use any ryegrass and if so what variety have you found is best for grazing...my farm has mostly fescue/clover/with some crabgrass and lespedeza for warm season. Just trying to thicken the stand of grass on the rented pasture as it was given very little attention the past few years.

 

[novatech]

Is there a preferred variety of ryegrass for grazing?

I prefer an annual rye. They can be very deep rooted. When the roots die they leave behind capillary tubes which aid in moving water back to the root zone of other plants. They aid in drainage and breaking up compacted clays. They will also bring up nutrients that have previously leached down out of reach of other plants.

 

[shaz]

Thanks Shaz for the reply...do you use any ryegrass and if so what variety have you found is best for grazing...my farm has mostly fescue/clover/with some crabgrass and lespedeza for warm season. Just trying to thicken the stand of grass on the rented pasture as it was given very little attention the past few years.

Yeah, Marshall is the preferred brand here. I've had decent luck but consider it a break-even for the grazing it adds.
I actually use for the reasons Novatech mentioned.

 

[pappy6]

Thanks guys...hopefully never too old to learn