Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Agronomist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Agronomist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Outline Comparing nutrient sources Risk of Nitrate Toxicity Control of N volatilization Use of legumes

Hay Production – 2008 Cost Breakdown

Soil Test and Follow Fertility Recommendations Sample 1/3 of your pastures each year and hayfields every year.

DO NOT cut back on lime! Get your priorities right! 1.Lime is still job #1. Get your priorities right! 1.Lime is still job #1.

Get at the Root of a Problem: Soil pH Problems

How Soil pH Affects Availability of Plant Nutrients The Difference of a soil pH of 5.8 vs. 6.2 Nutrient Amt. Used Annually Unit Price Dec. in Efficiency Value of Decrease (Lbs/acre)($/lb)($/acre) N200$0.8520% -$34 P2O5P2O5 50$0.8025% -$10 K2OK2O150$0.6010% -$ 9 Total -$53

Fertilization Strategies Hayfield 2 & 3 pH = 5.5 P = 15 K = 90 OM = 1.5% Hayfield 2 & 3 pH = 5.5 P = 15 K = 90 OM = 1.5% Hayfield 1 pH = 6.0 P = 25 K = 120 OM = 2.5% Hayfield 1 pH = 6.0 P = 25 K = 120 OM = 2.5% Pasture A pH = 6.2 P = 35 K = 180 OM = 3% Pasture A pH = 6.2 P = 35 K = 180 OM = 3%

The False Economy of Shortcuts Cost of Production Compared to Average Yield (t/ac)60%75%90%100%110%125% 8$56$71$85$94$103$118 7$64$80$96$107$118$134 6$75$94$113$125$138$156 5$90$113$135$150$165$188 4$113$141$169$188$207$235 3$150$188$225$250$275$313 Adapted from R.C. Lacy, 2008

A Fertilization Trick Avoid the Use of Standard Blends Fertilizer StrategyPrice, $/acre -Product Usedlbs of product/acre Blended Fertilizer$ $ Mixed Fertilizer$ Urea (46-0-0)488$ DAP ( )141$ Potash (0-0-60)375$ Poultry Litter$ $ Potash110$44.00 Target Fertilizer Rate: (Assumes Medium Soil Test Level P & K)

Another Fertilization Trick Long-term, this can increase yields by 5-10% and increase NUE by 25-30%  Especially important under extremes  Leaching  Volatilization (in the case of urea-based products)  Late freeze  Drought Split Your Nitrogen Applications!

Another Fertilization Trick Long-term, this can increase yields by 5-10% and increase NUE by 25-30%  Especially important under extremes  Leaching  Volatilization (in the case of urea-based products)  Late freeze  Drought Helps to prevent NITRATE TOXICITY! Split Your Nitrogen Applications!

N Concentration in the Forage Crop Days of Growth Growth of the Crop Nitrate Conc. in the Crop

N Concentration in the Forage Crop Days of Growth Nitrate Conc. in the Crop 5000 ppm Rec. Rate 2 x Rec. Rate 3 x Rec. Rate

Another Fertilization Trick Account for N Loss from Urea-based Products

Alternative N Sources Take a look at the info in your notebook: If you have to use a urea-based product, be careful about cutting your rate back too much. -They are relatively less effective at low rates.

Volatility Control?

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Another Fertilization Trick Split Your Potassium Applications! 40-50% in the Spring 50-60% in mid – late season

Poor Stress Tolerance Leafspot Diseases The Stand is Gone! Not Competitive Grows Very Slow Poor Winterhardiness K is for Persistence

Use Legumes to the Extent Possible

Benefits of Adding Legumes A valuable source of N (time-released). Species Annual lbs (N/acre) N value at $0.85/lb. of N Alfalfa $ Red clover $ White clover $ Annual clover $43-128

Value of Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass N Needed to BE* Expected N Fixation cost/lbcost/acre lbs N/acre Arrowleaf$2.00$ Crimson$1.80$ W. Clover$6.50$ Red Clover$3.00$ * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $12 per acre / $0.75 per lb of N = 16 lbs of N fixed per acre)

Quality Differences in the Major Forage Species Maint. Mod. Production High Production

The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment dry lbs/acre Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 0 N Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E Agron. J. 62:

Clover Yields in the Coastal Plain TreatmentFeb-MarApr-MayJun-JulTotal Annuals (dry lbs/acre) Arrowleaf 4252, ,472 Ball 5302, ,763 Berseem1,3592, ,276 Crimson1,8711,698-3,568 Subterranean 6461,214-1,860 Perennials Red 2542,1881,4553,896 White 4071,6121,2023,221 Source: Pederson and Ball, AL Ag. Exp. Sta. Circular 307. Average of 3 years and 4 locations

Clover Yield Variability in the Coastal Plain TreatmentFeb-MarApr-MayJun-JulTotal Annuals Arrowleaf VVV V VV V Ball V VV V V Berseem VV VVVVV Crimson VVV V - VV Subterranean VV V - VVV Perennials Red V VVV VVVVV VVV White V VV V VVVV Source: Pederson and Ball, AL Ag. Exp. Sta. Circular 307. The number of “V”s indicates the amount of variability in yield that there was over the 3 years and 4 locations (i.e., more “V”s = more variable).

Grow it with the grass Pasture White Clover  Close: Durana  Tall: Patriot  Short Duration: Osceola Pasture White Clover  Close: Durana  Tall: Patriot  Short Duration: Osceola

Grow it with the grass Pasture White Clover  Close: Durana  Tall: Patriot  Short Duration: Osceola Hayfield Red clover (w/ CSP Grass) Alfalfa (w/ CS or WSP Grass) Not many will compete Pasture White Clover  Close: Durana  Tall: Patriot  Short Duration: Osceola Hayfield Red clover (w/ CSP Grass) Alfalfa (w/ CS or WSP Grass) Not many will compete

Grazing Rules of Thumb Crop Target Height (inches) Recommended Rest Period (days) Begin GrazingEnd Grazing* Alfalfa (grazing types) Annual Ryegrass Bahiagrass Bermudagrass Clover, White Clovers, Other Orchardgrass Pearl millet Small grains Sorghum/sudan Switchgrass Tall Fescue * Height at end of grazing should take into consideration lower quality forage.

Use Legumes to the Extent Possible

Doing Many Things Well F F F F F F F A F

Grazing School 2009 September UGA-Athens Livestock Arena

Hay Production School 2009 April 21 UGA – Griffin Campus

QUESTIONS?