soil test

[M Thomason]

Just got my results back from soil test. Need 1000 lb lime per acre. Spreader truck coming Friday. Also says it needs 50 to 100 lbs Nitrogen, 60lbs Phosphorus and 40lbs Potash on common bermuda and fescue mixed pasture. When would be best time to apply fertilizer? This is only about 30 acres with 12 acres just planted in Sept. 2012. I applied 2 tons of tripple 15 to the 12 acres first of Oct. but the Rye I planted with this hasn't done a lot. Still looks yellowish green. I sent in a seperate sample for this pasture but wasn't much difference in test results. Was hoping this Rye would grow enough so I could cut out most of the hay. Only got 13 head and feeding 2 bales a week. Fertilizer man said he would mix up 20-15-10 blend said I didn't need to put all the Nitrogen on at once. What do ya'll say? When would you put this out?
Thanks Mike

 

[dun]

We lime and fertilize except N in the fall/winter. N in the spring when the grass is starting to grow

 

[Stocker Steve]

Lime any time. Just realize it can take years or a lot of tillage to really incorporate it. Best time for me is just before I bale graze a paddock.

Response to N varies a lot with forage variety and time of year. Old French method was to fertilize with up to 40# N per application when trees are just staring to bud and grass is not growing fast yet. Since it is cold there is not a lot of N available yet from the soil life - - and this approach will give you pasture about 2 weeks earlier and maximize #DM per # N. I do this every spring. Fall can work too but we don't get enough moisture half of the time.

 

[1982vett]

Just got my results back from soil test. Need 1000 lb lime per acre. Spreader truck coming Friday. Also says it needs 50 to 100 lbs Nitrogen, 60lbs Phosphorus and 40lbs Potash on common bermuda and fescue mixed pasture. When would be best time to apply fertilizer? This is only about 30 acres with 12 acres just planted in Sept. 2012. I applied 2 tons of tripple 15 to the 12 acres first of Oct. but the Rye I planted with this hasn't done a lot. Still looks yellowish green. I sent in a seperate sample for this pasture but wasn't much difference in test results. Was hoping this Rye would grow enough so I could cut out most of the hay. Only got 13 head and feeding 2 bales a week. Fertilizer man said he would mix up 20-15-10 blend said I didn't need to put all the Nitrogen on at once. What do ya'll say? When would you put this out?
Thanks Mike

No way to make pertinent recommendations without first having an idea of your location .....however....even cool season grasses will "go dormant" in cold weather. Since you mention bermuda and fescue....your probably...maybe...to cold or to dry (maybe the opposite, to wet) for vigorous growth at the moment. Longer days with warm sunshine should change that . Also, I doubt a half ton discrepancy of lime would be visibly noticeable.

Supposedly, fertilize bermuda when soil temps maintain 60 to 65 degrees....

 

[M Thomason]

I'm Just outside a two red light town in middle Ga. We've had over a week of temps in mid 70's. Didn't have much rain right after I planted but I did get a good stand Of Rye. I also sewed 25 lbs of Duranna Clover and some Pensecola Bahai at the same time. I haven't seen much evidence that the Bermuda,Bahai or Clover sprouted before cold weather set in around December. The Bermuda was common with hull still on but never sewed any Bahai didn't know if fall was right time to plant this or not.

 

[M Thomason]

I live in middle Ga. 6 miles from the two red light town of Monticello. We just had a week of 70 plus days and another 5 acres I had fescue and rye drilled in has all sprouted but doesn't look like its going to grow much without fertilizer.

 

[B&M Farms]

I would lime if needed in the fall or now if possible. I try to time my first application of fertilizer about 4 weeks before my first cutting depending on rain. This is usually about mid April for me. As soon as I get the bales moved I fertilize as soon as there is another good chance of rain. Lately I have been having to use a Urea based fertilizer and will not put it down without a good chance of rain. It will volitize much faster than ammonia nitrate and without a rain you lose most of the nitrogen.

 

[iowafarmer]

Apply the lime when ever possible. Lime needs to be incorperated to work in the soil profile. Apply nitrogen as needed before rain so that it gets washed into the soil and does not volatize. I would say do not apply more than 50 lbs of nitrogen at a time for grass. Are you working with an agronomist or anything for your recomendations? If so they will be able to help you on the nitrogen rec. If the soil test is calling for notrigen throw that recommendation out the window as nitrogen is hard to test for. Do not apply more than what the crop can use as otherwise the nitrogen will leach away. You would just be wasting your time and money. Apply P and K whenever. P and K will be available faster if incorporated but do not have to be.

 

[JustSimmental]

What is your lime index? ph= ____ ?

Just got my results back from soil test. Need 1000 lb lime per acre. Spreader truck coming Friday. Also says it needs 50 to 100 lbs Nitrogen, 60lbs Phosphorus and 40lbs Potash on common bermuda and fescue mixed pasture. When would be best time to apply fertilizer? This is only about 30 acres with 12 acres just planted in Sept. 2012. I applied 2 tons of tripple 15 to the 12 acres first of Oct. but the Rye I planted with this hasn't done a lot. Still looks yellowish green. I sent in a seperate sample for this pasture but wasn't much difference in test results. Was hoping this Rye would grow enough so I could cut out most of the hay. Only got 13 head and feeding 2 bales a week. Fertilizer man said he would mix up 20-15-10 blend said I didn't need to put all the Nitrogen on at once. What do ya'll say? When would you put this out?
Thanks Mike

 

[M Thomason]

Ph is 5.6 in one field and 5.7 in the other

 

[Jogeephus]

Apply the lime when ever possible. Lime needs to be incorperated to work in the soil profile. Apply nitrogen as needed before rain so that it gets washed into the soil and does not volatize. I would say do not apply more than 50 lbs of nitrogen at a time for grass. Are you working with an agronomist or anything for your recomendations? If so they will be able to help you on the nitrogen rec. If the soil test is calling for notrigen throw that recommendation out the window as nitrogen is hard to test for. Do not apply more than what the crop can use as otherwise the nitrogen will leach away. You would just be wasting your time and money. Apply P and K whenever. P and K will be available faster if incorporated but do not have to be.

Good advice.

Personally, I don't put out lime unless I'm going to put out at least a ton. Check the math on the cost of the lime versus application cost and you will understand why. I'd either delay the lime or put a ton. Like Iowa said, no need to put N out when its not growing but when its growing figure 1 lb of N per grazing day and the 50 lb rate should be fine so in a 1.5 months dose it again for best grazing cause the lime will be used or volatized.

 

[gonzo]

Lime I spread any time , I fertilize when the maples are just starting to bud 2or 3 weeks before greenup. :cowboy: