Isn’t using Urea fairly risky in a lot of ways ? I just put out 2 3/4 tons two days ago that cost $ 640 per ton. Put out at a rate of 100 lbs product per acre or N46-0-0 per acre. Had one lite sprinkle of rain that just wet the bottom of the rain gage and the temperature has reached 81 degrees the first day for 3 hours. Reached 83 degrees for 4 hours today.
I read that 80 degrees and above can cause volitilzation ( the fertilizer to evaporate and so does moisture as little as the ground being damp. )
If you spread it and as long as the ground is dry and there isn’t any dew to get on the fertilizer. The fertilizer will not volitize for 5 days.
But the urea needs a minimum of 1/2 inch of rain before that 5 days is over so that the urea settles into the ground to keep it from evaporating or violitilzation takes place. Which if that were to happen you have just lost everything you have paid for. The cost of the fertilizer, run time/fuel to put it out with/your time and work applying it. Everything is a loss.
Urea is a little cheaper than ammonia nitrate per ton. And has a higher percent nitrogen than ammonia nitrate. Urea is 46% N and Ammonia is 34 % N.
A County Extension agent told me that on Bermuda grass pasture if you are cutting it for hay and want to get repeat cuttings off of it through its growing season. You need to fertilize in within 30 days after you cut it. You have a 30 day window to get it fertilized. I had meant to ask him why but he was telling me about something else and I didn’t want to interrupt what he was telling me and I forgot to
ask.
And also if the PH Isn’t what it should be before you put down fertilizer and I am assuming that goes for all fertilizer not just straight nitrogen. It can affect the efficacy of the fertilizer you put out.
I took soil samples and applied everything that was called for on 54 acres that I drilled in Bermuda grass the last week in April 2024. And I didn’t get it put out on 18 acres because it began raining for almost two weeks after I got just over half of it put out and it was to wet to get in the field with a tractor to put it out. But I could have got it put out within 5 weeks of drilling it if I had of just done it but I didn’t. Things came up that I just put first rather than getting the recommended fertilizer out. My mistake.
So all of these things that are all important to happen that you are counting on like rain to happen. Which that’s something you can’t count on. Was a 90 % chance last night/ no rain/ 70 % the day before / no rain. And anymore the weather forecast can change in an hour. I don’t think it is even a forecast. Think if someone calls in to the News station. The News station will put out a percent of rain forecast. Just got a flood alert warning for my area and there’s not a cloud in the sky. Stars shining bright.
Would like to hear what those of you who have used Urea a lot think about it ? Whether it’s good or bad ?
I read that 80 degrees and above can cause volitilzation ( the fertilizer to evaporate and so does moisture as little as the ground being damp. )
If you spread it and as long as the ground is dry and there isn’t any dew to get on the fertilizer. The fertilizer will not volitize for 5 days.
But the urea needs a minimum of 1/2 inch of rain before that 5 days is over so that the urea settles into the ground to keep it from evaporating or violitilzation takes place. Which if that were to happen you have just lost everything you have paid for. The cost of the fertilizer, run time/fuel to put it out with/your time and work applying it. Everything is a loss.
Urea is a little cheaper than ammonia nitrate per ton. And has a higher percent nitrogen than ammonia nitrate. Urea is 46% N and Ammonia is 34 % N.
A County Extension agent told me that on Bermuda grass pasture if you are cutting it for hay and want to get repeat cuttings off of it through its growing season. You need to fertilize in within 30 days after you cut it. You have a 30 day window to get it fertilized. I had meant to ask him why but he was telling me about something else and I didn’t want to interrupt what he was telling me and I forgot to
ask.
And also if the PH Isn’t what it should be before you put down fertilizer and I am assuming that goes for all fertilizer not just straight nitrogen. It can affect the efficacy of the fertilizer you put out.
I took soil samples and applied everything that was called for on 54 acres that I drilled in Bermuda grass the last week in April 2024. And I didn’t get it put out on 18 acres because it began raining for almost two weeks after I got just over half of it put out and it was to wet to get in the field with a tractor to put it out. But I could have got it put out within 5 weeks of drilling it if I had of just done it but I didn’t. Things came up that I just put first rather than getting the recommended fertilizer out. My mistake.
So all of these things that are all important to happen that you are counting on like rain to happen. Which that’s something you can’t count on. Was a 90 % chance last night/ no rain/ 70 % the day before / no rain. And anymore the weather forecast can change in an hour. I don’t think it is even a forecast. Think if someone calls in to the News station. The News station will put out a percent of rain forecast. Just got a flood alert warning for my area and there’s not a cloud in the sky. Stars shining bright.
Would like to hear what those of you who have used Urea a lot think about it ? Whether it’s good or bad ?
