Fertilization Strategies for Hay Producers

By gerij

If you are trying to get a grip on your hay production cost, you likely have realized that one of the largest production costs is tied to fertilization. As input costs increase, it’s entirely logical to look for ways to reduce fertilizer cost. However, if the reduction in fertilizer results in reduced yield, (i.e. less fertilizer often equals lower yields), then the cost of the forage per ton (or pound) can actually go up! So how does one reduce forage production expenses without compromising yield?  Consider the following tips to help reduce fertilizer cost or at least make your investment in fertilizer more efficient.

• Soil test and follow  fertility recommendations- Well managed hay fields use more nutrients than many other commercial crops and large amounts of nutrients are removed from the soil with each ton of forage produced.If one does not soil sample and apply fertilizer and lime based on the results of these test, it’s likely you are either over or under applying nutrients. Either way you may be wasting your money. Few other practices in the hay production enterprise can improve profitability more than soil testing and following fertility recommendations.

• Do not neglect your soil pH- Keeping an optimum soil pH will ensure that soil tilth is maintained, root development is encouraged and most importantly  the nutrients in the soil are freely available to the plants. If the soil pH drops much below or drifts above optimum levels the availability of some nutrients in the soil will decrease and other nutrients can reach toxic levels. This can result in a major waste of one’s fertilizer nutrients. Correcting soil pH is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve nutrient availability in crop production and have benefits far beyond just one year.

• Avoid use of standard blends- Standard fertilizer blends such as 10-10-10 or 17-17-17 are commonly available by many producers. Unfortunately, these blends are usually much more expensive than custom mixed fertilizer products which can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual field or site. In the real world of soil fertility, plants rarely require equal quantities of N, P, & K. Over time the repeated use of standard blends such as “triple-10” or “triple-17” can lead to nutrient imbalances. Since nutrients like P tend to be immobile in the soil, excessive levels can cause “nutrient antagonism” and interfere with other nutrient uptake by plants.