Low-Cost Fertility Options for Forage Producers Ben Beale St. Mary’s County Extension Agent Some slides and pictures adapted from: Dave Myers Anne Arundel Extension Agent Dave Myers Ben Beale

Why worry about fertility?

Tall Fescue Fertilization Budget Commercial Fertilizer Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal – 5 tons bu Unit lbs/Acre Price/lb $ Total/Acre Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium *Fertilizer Total Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread (spring, summer, fall) Fertilizer Application Costs Fertilizer Grand Total $ Acre * Includes Trucking

Alfalfa Fertilization Budget Commercial Fertilizer Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal – 6 tons bu Unit lbs/Acre Price/lb $ Total/Acre Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium *Fertilizer Total Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread (spring, fall) Fertilizer Application Costs Fertilizer Grand Total $ Acre * Includes Trucking

Enterprise Budget for Cool Season Grass Hay

Fertilizer Options? Fertility Inputs for Forages Manure Bio-Solids Commercial Fertilizer Legumes

Back to the Basics: Understand the need for nutrients Understand how much of a nutrient we need.

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Recommendations Based on pre-plant soil tests and yield goal The lower the soil test value, the higher the nutrient recommendation Nitrogen Recommendations Nitrogen recommendations are based on crop and yield goals.

Potash Recommendation (lb/acre) as a function of soil fertility level (FIV-K) for corn grain (yield goal bu/ac) Optimum (51-100) Excessive (>100) Low (0-25) Medium (26-50) # K2O/A FIV-K Agricultural Nutrient Management Program

Good recommendations depend on good soil samples UMD-AGNR Photo Archive;

Beef/Dairy/Swine Manure UMD-AGNR Photo Archive;

Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic & Ammonium Nitrogen Components in a Typical Dairy Manure (assumes incorporation the same day as application) 2.4 lb 3 lb 6 lb 0.6 lb

Average Manure Analysis AvailableStockpile Lagoon Nutrient lbs/ton lbs/1000gal N P K Ca Mg S Mn Zn Cu USNAD, Gambrills MD: No-Tillage System

Tall Fescue Fertilization Budget Dairy/Beef Manure Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -5 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Manure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00 Nitrogen 45 (220) Phosphorus 105 (40) 0.00 Potassium240 (100) 0.00 Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure cleanout 1.00/ton Manure spreading15 ton/acre Fertilizer spreading Manure Application Costs Manure Fertilization Grand Total $ /Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $25.95

Alfalfa Fertilization Budget Dairy/Beef Manure Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -6 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Manure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00 Nitrogen 45 (0) 0.00 Phosphorus 105 (80) 0.00 Potassium240 (450) Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure cleanout 1.00/ton Manure spreading15 ton/acre Fertilizer spreading 6.00 Manure Application Costs Manure Fertilization Grand Total $ Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $54.60

Poultry Litter UMD-AGNR Photo Archive;

Table 2. Average Nutrient Values for Virginia Manure Tested Manure type Total N*Total P 2 O 5 *Total K 2 O* Available N Broadcast Available N Incorporated Immediately Poultry solid w/out litter (53) Poultry deep pit (5) Poultry solid w/ litter (761) *All nutrient values are reported in pounds per ton. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of samples. Available nitrogen estimated based on application to a spring or fall crop. Available N Broadcast: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 50% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available Available N Incorporated Immediately: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 90% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available Additional Benefits: Organic Matter and pH Poultry Litter as a Fertilizer and Soil Amendment Authors: G. L. Mullins, Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Science and E. S. Bendfeldt, Associate Extension Agent, Agricultural and Natural Resources; R.A. Clark, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Virginia Tech Publication Number , Posted January 2002

Figure 2- 4a. Distribution of available nitrogen from organic and ammonium nitrogen components in a typical broiler litter This litter contains 60 pounds of total nitrogen and 36 pounds of available nitrogen per ton. 16 lb 20 lb 4 lb 20 lb

Average Poultry Litter Not incorporated, applied in three split applications. Qualify for cost share with FIV less than 100 for N based and less than 150 for P based. 1 ton of poultry litter in first year will give: –26 lbs N –100 lbs. P –100 lbs K

Tall Fescue Fertilization Budget Poultry Litter Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -5 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter /ton* *($25/ton - $20/ton MDA cost share) Nitrogen208 (220) (amount negligible) 0.00 Phosphorus 800 (40) 0.00 Potassium800 (100) 0.00 Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure spreading 8 ton/acre Stock pile Maintenance Manure Application Costs Manure Fertilization Grand Total $ Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $80.50

Alfalfa Fertilization Budget Poultry Litter Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -6 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter /ton* *($25/ton - $20/ton MDA cost share) Nitrogen 117 (0) 0.00 Phosphorus 450 (80) 0.00 Potassium 450 (450) 0.00 Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure spreading4.5 ton/acre $8) Manure Application Costs Manure Fertilization Grand Total $ Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $ (If cost share applies)

Bio-Solids-Wet

Biosolids Average Plant Available Nutrients: lbs/ton N34.0 P19.1 K 6.0

Tall Fescue Fertilization Budget Bio-Solids Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -5 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Biosolids 6.5 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00 Nitrogen 221 (230) 0.00 Phosphorus 124 (40) 0.00 Potassium 39 (100) Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread KCL (180 lb/acre) 8.00 Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs 8.00 Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $ $/Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $130.64

Alfalfa Fertilization Budget Poultry Litter Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -6 tons Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Biosolids 6.5 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00 Nitrogen 221 (250) 0.00 Phosphorus 124 (80) 0.00 Potassium 39 (450) Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread KCL (700 lb/acre) Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $ $/Acre (*) Amount required Savings of $35.34

Sewage Sludge Heavy Metal Tolerance Guidelines

De-Hydrated Sludge Use is similar to fertilizer. Granulite –Mineralization rate of 50% In-expensive, easy to spread, readily available in Baltimore. Contact: Cullin’s Lime for more info in St. Mary’s

Liming Cost

Domino’s Lime May offer a good value compared to conventional lime. By product of Domino Sugar refinement process located in Baltimore, MD Domino Lime may be obtained directly by contacting Tom Reilly, Eastern Materials Inc. at or Rates Delivery MilesCharge/Ton Delivered 0-50$ $ $ $ $ $13.80 >150$15.42 and up Genstar Aglime Domino Lime Moisture 5.0% -- CaO (calcium oxide) 51.0% 47.24% MgO (magnesium oxide) 1.0% 0.70% CaCO3 Equivalent (CCE) 93.0% 80.09% Pass 20 Mesh98.0% % Pass 60 Mesh80.0% 99.72% Pass 100 Mesh 56.0% 99.66%

In Summary: UMD-AGNR Photo Archive;

In Summary: 1) Important to get things in the right place –Alfalfa requires high K Poultry Litter, Manure –Grasses require high N Sludge, Manure

In Summary: 2) Take good soil test. Operate with good information. Do not apply nutrients you do not need.

In Summary: 3) Explore you Options. Manure, bio-solids, poultry litter, dehydrated sludge and fertilizer may or may not be a good fit depending upon your operation.

“Any Questions?” This man knows what he is smelling about! (Dr. Les Vough Pictured) Ben Beale Maryland Cooperative Extension