The second topic in the Hay that Pays series is Hay Fertility Management presented by Brie Menjoulet, Agronomy Specialist in Hermitage, Mo. Menjoulet focused on the importance of soil quality. In order to keep your soil in the best shape possible, you must pay attention to the nutrient movement and retention. This is dependent on the nutrient itself; the overall soil health; the soil texture or composition (the amount of sand, silt and clay in the soil); the organic matter fraction; the fertilizer type used or available and the application method.
The greater the yield the more fertilizer needed. The nutrients must be replaced in order to sustain the yield. There are synthetic and organic fertilizers that can be used. Legumes are an excellent organic fertilizer.
Consider how and where you are feeding hay. Whether you are unrolling, using stationary bale rings, moving the bale rings, or dragging your hay to feed, hay feeding impacts nutrient cycling. By moving your hay feeding sites often you can literally recycle the nutrients in the hay and distribute that throughout your pasture. Unrolling your hay bales allows your “boss” cows and timid cows to eat together. You have less hoof damage to the feeding area because it is larger and it distributes fertilizer nutrients back to the field. By having the manure deposits spread out over a greater area, you are having “free” fertilizer distributed throughout your pasture. Dividing your pasture into paddock zones and feeding accordingly will more efficiently distribute the nutrients that are available.
Manure fertilization adds organic matter and helps improve many aspects of your soils’ health. It adds micronutrients that are not available with other fertilizers. The down sides are the smell, transportation costs, availability and nutrient variability. Menjoulet stressed the importance of comparing the nutrient content of manures and prices as well as making sure that you understand what nutrient concentration you are getting. There can be a large variation from different facilities depending on the type of operation. Some may be more concentrated while others contain a higher percentage of water and other materials.
Application timing is important. Phosphorous, potassium and lime take time to work into the root zone but nitrogen doesn’t stick around. Fertilize early enough to give it time to work for you.
Menjoulet discussed lime and cautioned the overuse. It can smother plants at the surface level. Lime doesn’t go deep unless you till. You should limit lime applications to 2-3 tons per acre per year. Applying 2 tons per acre every now and then is not a good practice. Menjoulet said to consider the pH of your field if you are going to lime. Legumes need a higher pH, in the 6.0 to 7.5 range, but cool-season grasses need a lower pH of 5.5 to 7.
Menjoulet also discussed soil testing to ensure that you are fertilizing to meet the needs of your soil. Be sure to soil test prior to any application. Testing in the same areas each year at the same time of year at the same depth provides consistency. This should help give you the best indicators of what is needed. Taking core samples from different paddocks is a good idea and will give you the best picture.
