Fertility Central: Best Cost Options and Recommendations for Different Forages Brian Clark Prince Georges County Extension Agent Ben Beale St. Mary’s County Extension Agent Charts and Nutrient Recommendation supplied by Adam Lyon, Nutrient Management Advisor, St. Mary’s Co. Some slides and pictures adapted from: Dave Myers Dave Myers Ben Beale
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Fertility Central: Best Cost Options and Recommendations for Different Forages
Fertility Central: Best Cost Options and Recommendations for Different Forages. Dave Myers. Brian Clark Prince Georges County Extension Agent Ben Beale St. Mary’s County Extension Agent Charts and Nutrient Recommendation supplied by Adam Lyon, Nutrient Management Advisor, St. Mary’s Co. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Fertility Central: Best Cost Options
and Recommendations
for Different Forages
Brian ClarkPrince Georges County
Extension Agent
Ben BealeSt. Mary’s County Extension Agent
Charts and Nutrient Recommendation supplied by
Adam Lyon, Nutrient Management Advisor, St. Mary’s Co.
Some slides and pictures adapted from:Dave Myers
Anne Arundel Extension Agent
Dave Myers
Ben Beale
Why worry about fertility?
Why worry about fertility?
• Horses need roughage to maintain digestive tract function.• Roughage comes from hay and pasture.• Quality pasture depends on good management and fertility
Presentation Objectives
• Review basic fertility needs of forage crops– Basis for recommendations– Differences in legume v/s grass, yields, etc
• Review the commonly available nutrient sources– Understand the advantages and
disadvantages of each– Understand the cost per acre using these
nutrients
In order to grow to their fullest potential, plants need a total of 16 nutrients.
A deficiency of any one of these nutrients will result in reduced plant performance.
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.
2 2.5 3 3.5 40.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
180.0
200.0
50.065.0 70.0
85.0100.0
25.0
30.040.0
45.0
50.0
25.0
30.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
Pounds per Year of Nitrogen Required to Achieve Differing Orchardgrass Yields
Yield Goal (Tons/Acre)
LBS
Nit
roge
n/A
cre/
Yea
r
Nitrogen Required to Achieve Average Yield
Orchard
grass
(3 t/
a)
Timoth
y (3 t/
a)
Mill
et (5 t/
a)
Sudangrass
(5 t/
a)
Sorghum
-Sudan (5 t/
a)
Teff (3
t/a)
Tall Fesc
ue (3 t/
a)
Reed Canarygra
ss (3
t/a)
Lespedeza (3
t/a)
Alfalfa
(5 t/
a)0
20406080
100120140160180200
150
180
150 150 150 150 150 150
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
150
114
78
53
37
20 20 20 20 20 20
0
Phosphorus (P) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield goal)
FIV-P
LBS
P20
5/A
cre
Optimum (51-100)
Excessive (>100)Low (0-
25)
Medium (26-50)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200200
164
128
100
75
5044
3832
2620
0
Potash (K) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield
goal)
FIV-K
LBS
K20
/Acr
e
Optimum (51-100)
Excessive (>100)Low (0-
25)
Medium (26-50)
Good recommendations depend on good soil samples
UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu
Soil Sampling Procedures for Nutrient Management
1. Define the Management Areas. A management area is an area that can and will be
managed separately from any other. Areas with differing soil types, past cropping histories,
differing manure histories, or production potentials should be managed separately.
Now we have 2 different fields that should to be sampled differently!
Soil Sampling Procedures for Nutrient Management
2. Sample the management areas. Collect 15 to 20 samples (cores) with a soil probe and place in a clean
plastic bucket. Take samples from throughout the entire management area. Avoid sampling unusual areas such as windbreaks, fence lines, wet areas,
or near roads. (These areas could misrepresent nutrient values.) Scrape away any surface residues. (Grass, rocks, crop residue) Take samples at the proper depth of 8 inches for crop and pasture land.
3. Mix the sample.• Thorough mixing is essential.• If the sample is hard or strongly aggregated, break it up.• Transfer the soil to a bucket and mix it at least 50 times.• Spread the soil out, take 5 different scoops, totaling about 1 pint.• Place into soil sample bag, unless you need to……….
4. Dry the sample.• Spread the sample out in a warm
place overnight to air dry it.• Newspaper or paper plate is fine.• Do not heat the soil. This will
– Readily available– Easy to spread– Can apply exactly the amount needed for crop
growth– Nutrients typically available immediately
Commercial Fertilizer• Disadvantages
– Can be Expensive– Nutrients typically available immediately-
leaching– Doesn’t come with any organic matter
Commercial Fertilizer• Best Management Practices
– Soil Test on a regular basis.– Split apply Nitrogen according to crop growth
needs– Be aware of N loss pathways
• Urea-volatilizes quickly. Losses can exceed 50%• Apply shortly before a soaking rain to an
established sod, if possible.– Calibrate spreader and tractor driver
Commercial Fertilizer: Types and Costs for Bulk Blends Components:
Analysis Price per Ton N P KNitrogenAmmonium Sulfate 21-0-0 24S 245.00$ 0.58$ Urea 46-0-0 425.00$ 0.46$
PhosphateDAP 18-46-0 500.00$ 0.46$ 0.36$ MAP 11-52-0 510.00$ 0.46$ 0.39$ Triple Super P 0-46-0 510.00$ 0.55$
PotashMuriate of Potash 0-0-60 460.00$ 0.38$
Comparing Nutrient Prices within Types of Fertilizers
$0.00
$0.10
$0.20
$0.30
$0.40
$0.50
$0.60
$0.70
$0.58
$0.46 $0.46 $0.46
$0.36$0.39
$0.55
$0.38 N P
K
Cost
per
Pou
nd
Ag-Gro-Pro 5-10-15 50 lbs.
This bag contains: 5% nitrogen--10%
phosphate--15% potash or 2.5 lbs. nitrogen
5 lbs. phosphate
7.5 lbs. potash
What does a fertilizer guarantee mean?
Using fixed analysis bagged fertilizer
• Example of 10-10-10• $350.00 per Ton• $8.75 per bag
• To meet 150 lb. Nitrogen recommendation will need: 1500 lbs of 10-10-10 fertilizer, for a total cost of $262.50
• Also get 150 lbs of P and 150 of K.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
150
114
78
53
37
20 20 20 20 20 20
0
Phosphorus (P) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield goal)
FIV-P
LBS
P20
5/A
cre
Optimum (51-100)
Excessive (>100)Low (0-
25)
Medium (26-50)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200200
164
128
100
75
5044
3832
2620
0
Potash (K) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield
goal)
FIV-K
LBS
K20
/Acr
e
Optimum (51-100)
Excessive (>100)Low (0-
25)
Medium (26-50)
Using fixed analysis bagged fertilizer: 10-10-10
• Total cost of 262.50 per acre• Typically you will over apply the amount of
P and K you really need.• For example:
– If soil test reveals you only need 50 lbs of P and 75 lbs of K, you over apply 100 lb of P and 75 lbs of K
– This will cost you around $55.00 extra.
Poultry Litter
UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu
2 2.5 3 3.5 40.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
1.62.1 2.2
2.73.2
0.8
1.01.3
1.4
1.6
0.8
1.0
1.3
1.4
1.6
Perdue Poultry Litter Required (tons/acre) to Achieve Total Ni-trogen Requirement for Differing Orchardgrass Yields (tons/acre)
Yield Goal (Tons/Acre)
Po
ult
ry L
itte
r R
equ
ired
(T
on
s/A
cre)
Average Poultry Litter• Not incorporated, applied in three split
applications. • Cost-share program not currently
available. However, poultry litter does seem to be more available than last year.
Average Poultry Litter• The availability of Nitrogen from Poultry
Litter is dependent upon:– Mineralization rate
• Year 1: 50%• Year 2: 15%• Year 3: 8%
– Temperature• Average analysis for Perdue Poultry Litter:
– 3.0% N (0.3% Ammonium)– 2.5% P– 2.5% K
Average Poultry Litter• Poultry Litter will be available over a long
period of time- at least 3 years.• 1 ton of poultry litter in first year (No
incorporation) will give:– 31 lbs N– 50 lbs P– 50 lbs K
• Per 1.0 ton of Poultry Litter, N mineralized:– First Year: 31 lbs– Second Year: 10 lbs– Third Year: 5 lbs
Poultry Litter Cost
• Average Rate, including transportation from the shore is $35.00 per ton.
• If using Poultry Litter to only supply Nitrogen, it is a relatively expensive.
• 1 ton, broadcast and not incorporated supplies 31 pounds of Nitrogen.
• Thus, 1 lb of N from PL costs about $1.10 • This approach discounts the value any
other nutrients (P and K) supplied.
Poultry Litter Cost
• If using Poultry Litter to only supply Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash on deficient soils, it becomes more of a value.
• 1 ton, broadcast and not incorporated supplies 31 pounds of N, 50 lbs P and 50 lbs K.
• Thus, the cost to replace the entire nutrient value of poultry litter with fertilizer is: $51.26
Applying Poultry Litter to meet N needs will oversupply P
1 2 3 4 50
50
100
150
200
250
300
50
100
150
200
250
20 20 20 20 20
Tons of Poultry Litter Applied per Acre
Lbs
of P
Ap
pli
ed
Blue bar indicates the Phosphorus needed per acre to achieve a 3.0 ton/acre yield goal for Orchardgrass given a Fertility level (FIV-P) of Optimum (51).
Strategies for Poultry Litter• Strategy One:
– Use poultry litter as the first split application to meet any P and K needs.
– As need for P and K diminishes, turn to commercial fertilizer to fill the rest of the yearly nitrogen needs.
• Strategy Two:– Use poultry litter every other year on soils
testing optimal or above. – Monitor P soil levels with regular soil test
Orchardgrass Fertilization BudgetPoultry Litter
Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -3 tons
Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter 5 tons/A @ 35.00/ton 175.00
Manure Application Costs 35.00Manure Fertilization Grand Total $210.00 Acre
(*) Amount required to supply N
Beef/Dairy/Swine Manure
UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu
Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic & Ammonium Nitrogen Components in a Typical
Dairy Manure (assumes incorporation the same day as application)
Unavailable am-monium nitrogen
Available ammonium nitrogen
Available organic nitrogen
Unavailable organic nitrogen
2.4 lb
3 lb
6 lb
0.6 lb
Average Manure Analysis 1989-1997
Available Stockpile Lagoon Nutrient lbs/ton lbs/1000gal N 3.0 0.24 P 7.0 1.34 K 16.0 5.02 Ca 8.0 1.13 Mg 3.0 0.69 S 1.5 0.05 Mn 0.08 0.004 Zn 0.05 0.002 Cu 0.02 0.003
USNAD, Gambrills MD: No-Tillage System
Tall Fescue Fertilization BudgetDairy/Beef Manure
Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -5 tons