Applying fertilizer in late November or December is ideal for smooth bromegrass fields, as long as the ground is not frozen or saturated, said Dave Mengel, K-State Research and Extension soil fertility specialist.
Late-fall fertilizer applications will generally lead to earlier spring greenup and greater forage production than spring fertilizer applications. As nitrogen fertilizer prices have risen while hay prices have remained relatively flat during the past year, producers may want to reevaluate the rates of nitrogen used for bromegrass hay production, Mengel said.
"Traditional recommendations for hay production have been to apply 40 pounds of nitrogen per ton of expected hay yield, or about 80 to 160 pounds of nitrogen per acre to unfrozen ground, according to the field´s productive capability," he said.
With nitrogen fertilizer costs having increased, and hay prices remaining fairly constant, many farmers are questioning how much, if any, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to bromegrass this winter or next spring. To answer this question, Mengel said he evaluated the results of more than 100 experiments conducted in Kansas since 1975 on the response of bromegrass to both spring and fall-applied nitrogen fertilizer.
Using a price of $0.80 per pound of actual nitrogen and $60 per ton as the value of hay, the soil specialist calculated the appropriate nitrogen rate this fall to maximize returns would be between 60 and 70 pounds of nitrogen per acre—not the 120 pounds of nitrogen normally recommended for three-ton hay production.
"While yields will be lower, the economics of using reduced nitrogen rates are much more attractive. But keep in mind that nitrogen prices are volatile right now, and if they drop significantly, nitrogen rates should increase accordingly," Mengel said.
One issue these calculations don't consider is hay quality, he added. Protein levels will drop at the lower nitrogen fertilizer rates.
"So where producers are relying on high-quality hay as their primary protein source, they may want to push nitrogen rates a little higher, or be prepared to add supplemental protein to rations," he said.
If the bromegrass pasture will be grazed instead of hayed, the adjusted recommendations also call for about 60 to 70 pounds of nitrogen per acre, he added.
For phosphorus or potassium recommendations, a soil test is needed. Smooth bromegrass will respond to phosphorus in combination with nitrogen when soil test phosphorus levels are below 15 to 20 parts per million.
More information is available at county and district K-State Research and Extension offices and in the K-State Extension publication C402, "Smooth Brome Production and Utilization," on the Web at: www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/c402.pdf.
Crops
Fertilizing brome for optimal hay
- Crops
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Plant now, add nitrogen later
When the rain faucet shuts off, plant first and apply nitrogen later, advises Peter Scharf, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist and professor in plant sciences at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
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MU Field Scouting Report: No freeze damage to wheat, delayed corn planting
Wheat is in the flag leaf to early boot stage. No freeze damage to the wheat head was seen. Temporary phosphorus deficiency, identified by purpling on leaf tips, was seen due to cold weather.
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Corn planting dates and cold temps cause concern
“The possibility of temperatures nearing 32 degrees or below, there is concern among producers for damage of the wheat head,” said Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension in Barton County. According to Bill Wiebold, state specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, wheat is the most sensitive to freezing temperatures when the heads are coming out and flowers are beginning to form.
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Wildcat Extension Report: Can gypsum fix what ails your soil?
A man much wiser than me once said that the easiest way to change your soil is to move. Unfortunately, this is not always an option for most producers. Soils in southeast Kansas are classified, in general, to be heavy clay soils.
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Kansas wheat growers should be aware of crop diseases
With forecasts of snow still a possibility and the wheat just starting to green up in parts of Kansas, it may surprise some wheat growers to know that March is an important month for wheat disease development.
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Cover crops can provide many benefits
Having plant growth in fields year-round can improve the soil, according to Tim Reinbott, superintendent of the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. He says using cover crops in the fall and spring can provide large benefits.
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Drought impacts U.S. soybean quality results
According to a recent soy-checkoff-funded study, the overall oil levels in last year’s U.S. soybean crop increased over the previous year, while average protein fell. United Soybean Board (USB) Customer Focus Action Team Chair Sharon Covert says U.S. soy’s biggest users pay attention to those results.
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Midwest soil could take up to two years to recover
The Midwest suffered the worst drought in years last summer, and Midwest soil has been suffering from a drought since early 2010. As a result, crops have wilted and farmers have fallen on hard times. Now, a University of Missouri researcher says that it may take at least two years for crops and soil to recover.
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Ag profitability conference addresses crop concerns
Corn and soybean producers face wide-ranging harvest price possibilities for the crops they plant this spring.
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Local growers get latest on new herbicides
Controlling herbicide resistant weeds was the hot topic during the Andrew County Ag. Update conference on Thursday, Jan. 17 in the Clasbey Center in Savannah, Mo.
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Plant now, add nitrogen later
