Liquid or Pellet Fertilizer for Pasture

D&D Farm

D&D Farm

Gold Site Supporter
First of all.....SO GOOD TO SEE Jamie, TWO GUNS... talking and sharing his excellent common sense and knowledge again...............

It's fall seed and feed time for my pastures. Most are hilly and with a mix of some trees that one has to dodge around when spreading fert, seed, and herbicide. I have been using my "Bumper Buddy" spreader on the tailgate of my RTV to do this with excellent results.

In the past, I have always used pellet fertilizer of various strengths. The other day I came across liquid fret at TSC that is 19-19-19 and a couple of others. The rate is 1/2 gallon to 50 gallons per acre. Got some and applied it; but to soon yet to tell the difference. I brought the subject up at my farm store where I usually get my Ag stuff. He went into a sermon about the fact that how could they put the same amount of nitrogen in a 2 gallon can that 4 50 pound sacks of high content pellet has per acre......

Got me to thinking so gotta ask the fine folks on here their experience with the liquid. Spraying is so much easier than spreading; but does the liquid last very long and is really just as effective. Pellet last 45 to 60 days; but I can spray an acre in perhaps 10 minutes while spreading takes perhaps twice as long.....................THOUGHTS?????????
God bless......Dennis
 
Dennis,

I read on here on occasion but never post. We have a decent size hay operation that grandpa started in 60's. he owned a commercial fertilizer business when I was younger and I helped out and went to several meetings. I remember a chemist speaking at a customer appreciation dinner he had one time...and although he was pushing liquid...he said pellets vs liquid were really no difference. We don't put out liquid in dry conditions. As far as what we do to all our jiggs and Tifton fields...it is soil sample very early...first time contractor puts down whatever each field needs (in pellets) with big pellet trucks. Then the rest of the year we put down straight 32% nitrogen (liquid) with our own 1,000 sprayer with gps. We get the liquid in 18 wheeler loads straight from Helena. The liquid is easy to put in our holding tanks and put out....so it is more convenient for us. On the cattle side we don't fertilize the fields but pay terra gators to spray for weed and brush control.

I'll shut up now!
Jon
 
if you use pellets in the ammonium form then it should be fine but if you use urea pellets and the temp is warm you will loose the fertilizer to the atmosphere. the same applies to liquid.
 
I just applied pellet to about 20 acres. Worked wonderfully. I was advised that the spray works great but must be soaked in ASAP or it evaporates? I am not sure if that is correct but I can tell you the pellet form dang sure improved my growth.
 
Rogerwh0 said:
I was advised that the spray works great but must be soaked in ASAP or it evaporates? I am not sure if that is correct but I can tell you the pellet form dang sure improved my growth.
Click to expand...
Be it spray or pellet, nitrogen in particular (especially Urea) is subject to evaporation. Whether I'm doing Urea (46-0-0) or Fertilizer (19-19-19), I do it only when rain is known to be coming (none of this 50° chance of rain) within the next 8 hours.

I also do my spraying when there's dew in the ground. That way I can see my tire tracks from the previous lap and set my driving distance accordingly.

I find pellet faster than spray. My little 25-gallon tow-behind sprayer only has a 6' wide coverage. My tow-behind pellet spreader easily reaches out 20+ feet.
 
Thanks folks for the thoughts...... Am wondering about which actually works best..... It doesn't seem that if lets say 25-10-10 has actually 20 lbs of nitrogen in in 50 pound bag and it takes 200 pounds per acre that would be 80 pounds of nitrogen. The liquid stuff uses 1/2 gal, weighing maybe 4 pounds with the nitrogen weighing maybe 1 pound, how can one get the same amount of nitrogen?????.......

Or am I comparing apples and oranges??? I pretty much know about the application problems but am really wondering which works best and longest?????? Thanks so much for the thoughts and help...... God bless....Dennis
 
bczoom said:
I do it only when rain is known to be coming (none of this 50° chance of rain) within the next 8 hours.


BC or anyone.... Yes, I totally understand about evaporation/dissolving of the fertilizer.. From what I understand, if one sprays one wants the fertilizer to be absorbed by the leaves of the plant. So if it rains SOON, the fertilizer will be washed off by the rain/irrigation. Is there a timeline or something for this????

We get gully washers here later instead of an inch or so over a whole day it comes in 30 minutes. So, if I put the pellets out on our hilly pastures they get washed off..... Another reason to spray.....
So, the question is: Is spraying fertilizer as good a treatment as spreading pellets. For long lasting? For strength into the soil and the roots/plant over a period of time???............THANKS FOR YOUR HELP...... God bless...Dennis
Click to expand...
 
I hate to mention this, but the Clean Water Act is going to mess us all over on applying anything to our farms, yards or gardens.. It is an evolving bill so check out the Epa, corps of engineers and the WOTUS "Waters of the United States" ruling. It will be a new rule that applies the clean water act to just about anything from the ditch out front of your house to the pond on your land .. Check out the WOTUS rule , in your state. If this gets passed, we won't be able to ...... even spread fertilizer without risking serious charges. or even dig a ditch..
Just wait till you try to buy medicated feed for your livestock or even backyard chickens after Jan 2017.... You are gonna need a prescription from a licensed vet. collie
 
I once had the FSA and the NRCS levy a 25000.00 dollar a day fine on me for this. it went on for months before we resolved the issue. Bordercollie is correct if they redefine the navigable waters rule then the 404 rule of the corps of engineers will cause much agony amongst property owners.
 
Border collie,
I was told by another rancher...and read in a magazine...that many of the medications that I use on occasion will have to be bought through a vet because of this act. I use LA300 and Nufloor in dart guns when I see sick cows in my herds. I have a vet that will give me a deal (barely over his cost) but that is going to be a pain. I guess I need to read over that bill.

Jon
 
jonparker, that bill is a different one.. but it is coming.... for the injectables. Your hands will be tied.... I will try and post more on another thread this evening.
Dennis, if you had access to chicken litter, that will give a longer result but is stinky for a bit. Nitrate seems to evaporate and if it doesn't rain it in ,then all you can do is say bye to $. I know a fella that used to sell the stuff and his bins where it was stored- would about act like wet sugar in our humidity... the pile would get smaller and smaller.. collie
 
Hey Dennis!!!! Well I've been silent of late, but felt compelled to weigh in on this subject. I cannot answer your question about liquid fertilizer, but of course can share some thoughts.

Dennis, for the area that you are to fertilize, do you cut hay off of the area? If not, why waste money on fertilizer?

I used to have the philosophy to always fertilize since that's what the University Extension always stressed. I must say that production of hay does normally require fertilizer; however, pasture land does not as long as intensive rotational grazing is employed.

One of my best ever decisions was to sell my hay equipment and purchase a hay hauling trailer. I've been very fortunate to have established hay buying privileges with a fine family 10 miles from my home. They do fertilize both commercially and with chicken litter and maintain the meadows free of weeds. Each bale I purchase and feed is like spreading fertilizer.

Spreading fertilizer by the bale and by the urine/cow pile has proven to be most cost beneficial in my operation. So much so that I've not purchased ANY commercial fertilizer in 15 years.

Now, I must confess that I will be spreading commercial fertilizer over the next few weeks in support of an NRCS contract for re-establishment of clover lost during the drought.

Legumes are the other large "fixer" of nitrogen at Rehm Angus. Something new for me this year is planting of cover crops. I now have new seedlings arising from the soil, including Elbon Rye, Black Winter Oats, Common Vetch, Crimsom Clover, and Purple Top Radishes on 35 acres. This cover crops will be grazed during the fall and winter. Have high hopes for this endeavor.

God Bless Dennis. Keep learning everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top