Liquid Fertilizer for Grazing Fields

[Guilherme]

I’m actively exploring the use of liquid fertilizer for grazing fields this year.

We have a lot of hilly terrain that is clear and has been used for both hay production and grazing of the years. There are some places where getting a buggy with a couple of tons of material in it is challenging. I’ve got a 110 gal. spray rig with a 21’ boom for the 3 pt. hitch and it works quite well for applying weed killers. It would be an excellent idea if I could find a good quality liquid fertilizer that meets my needs and even better if I could mix herbicides with the fertilizer. That would save a lot of money on diesel and tractor time.

So far I’ve not found much in the way of a promising program. I did find a couple of sellers of liquid fertilizers that might meet my needs but one is sort of a “high pressure” operation and the other just doesn’t look completely “right” in their advertising. I’ve got a call in to our local County Agent but so far all we’ve done in play “phone tag.”

There have been a few threads I’ve found on ag. sites and the liquids are usually given little credibility. Sometimes it’s on a sound basis, like application of actual material per acre with a liquid vice a solid material (with solid material being much more dense). The main advantage of the liquid is quick uptake by the plants but not much in the way of longer term soil improvement. There is also less risk of run off into waterways with the liquid program.

Anyone ever tried this? What was the result? Or researched it and then decided not to proceed?

Any information would be appreciated.

G.

[carman_liz]

Have you tried southern states? Even if you do not have one near you, you can still call and ask them about it, or local tsc or feed co op.

[fjordmom]

We’ve been spraying liquid nitrogen on our hay ground/pasture for years. We try to get it on as early in the spring as possible once the snow has melted and the ground isn’t so wet that we’ll get compaction. Do our best to time it just before a rain. That way the material is washed into the soil root zone rather than volatilizing off into the air. (That’s your biggest loss with liquid N.) It gives the hay production a good quick burst to start the season and a better grass yield. We’ve definitely noticed the difference in years when the application was late.

We do keep the horses off fertilized ground for a few days and in a sacrifice area, usually until the field has been rained on. I don’t know that this is truly necessary. We’ve never had any problems in years where we only got a light rain.

We do have the advantage of having access to a 4WD truck mounted unit that DH brings home from his work as orchard manager. He does get the liquid as part of the orchard bulk order, but you should be able to get liquid N thru most outlets that supply commercial farmers.

Sometimes you can tank mix herbicide and fertilizer, but make sure:

1. materials are compatible
2. timing of application is right so they are effective. Timing of herbicide may need to be different depending on target weeds and mode of action.
   A good strong grass stand is often your best defense against weeds. Also, remember, a “weed” is merely a plant out of place. Some forbs such as dandelions actually sequester a lot of nutrients and are good for livestock.

Don’t be taken in by some of the high pressure, boutique products out there. Lots of stuff in them that won’t help your pasture in a big way and lots of $$$$ spent. Main thing is to know what your ground needs for N-P-K. Basic soil test will tell you that. Local extension agent should be able to help you interpret the results if you don’t already know how to do that. They can also help you figure out application rate based on what product you will be using. Keep chasing him/her down!

P & K (and possibly lime) are much slower to break down and act in the soil. They are best applied in solid applications, as need, based on soil tests. Not always needed every year. N is highly soluble and volatile, so typically needs annual application.

True soil building is a very long term (years) process that involves adding organic matter. Simplistically, adding composted manure is the easiest method but there is really MUCH more to it if you want a vibrant living soil. There are resources out there if you want to educate yourself, enjoy chemistry, entomology, and a host of other sciences. It will be an ongoing work in progress.

[Guilherme]

@fjordmom

We’ve been spraying liquid nitrogen on our hay ground/pasture for years. We try to get it on as early in the spring as possible once the snow has melted and the ground isn’t so wet that we’ll get compaction. Do our best to time it just before a rain. That way the material is washed into the soil root zone rather than volatilizing off into the air. (That’s your biggest loss with liquid N.) It gives the hay production a good quick burst to start the season and a better grass yield. We’ve definitely noticed the difference in years when the application was late.

We do keep the horses off fertilized ground for a few days and in a sacrifice area, usually until the field has been rained on. I don’t know that this is truly necessary. We’ve never had any problems in years where we only got a light rain.

We do have the advantage of having access to a 4WD truck mounted unit that DH brings home from his work as orchard manager. He does get the liquid as part of the orchard bulk order, but you should be able to get liquid N thru most outlets that supply commercial farmers.

Sometimes you can tank mix herbicide and fertilizer, but make sure:

1. materials are compatible
2. timing of application is right so they are effective. Timing of herbicide may need to be different depending on target weeds and mode of action.
   A good strong grass stand is often your best defense against weeds. Also, remember, a “weed” is merely a plant out of place. Some forbs such as dandelions actually sequester a lot of nutrients and are good for livestock.

Don’t be taken in by some of the high pressure, boutique products out there. Lots of stuff in them that won’t help your pasture in a big way and lots of $$$$ spent. Main thing is to know what your ground needs for N-P-K. Basic soil test will tell you that. Local extension agent should be able to help you interpret the results if you don’t already know how to do that. They can also help you figure out application rate based on what product you will be using. Keep chasing him/her down!

P & K (and possibly lime) are much slower to break down and act in the soil. They are best applied in solid applications, as need, based on soil tests. Not always needed every year. N is highly soluble and volatile, so typically needs annual application.

True soil building is a very long term (years) process that involves adding organic matter. Simplistically, adding composted manure is the easiest method but there is really MUCH more to it if you want a vibrant living soil. There are resources out there if you want to educate yourself, enjoy chemistry, entomology, and a host of other sciences. It will be an ongoing work in progress.

Thank you for the excellent advice, above. We done some of this, as dictated by our climate, soil, and rain patterns. If I were going to go for maximized hay production I would not be looking at this route. But the same field that will make you money by producing hay, or being good graze for cattle or sheep, will kill a bunch of horses. So, you as you “feed to need” you also raise your feed to fit that need. I don’t think we are going to make any hay this year as we have several sources of good quality hay available. And if we do the fields right we won’t use any hay until sometime in December, or even January. And we’re done in mid-April. We’ve done the “yellow pad analysis” and think that we’ve got a very viable plan. Assuming, of course, the weather cooperates. That item is what make farmers the World’s Greatest Gamblers as we rely on something we cannot control!

I’ll continue my research and will be making final decisions by mid-week.

G.

[fjordmom]

Now if you figure out how to get the weather to cooperate please share that secret.:winkgrin: Good luck with your decision making. If I’m lucky enough snow will be gone in 6 weeks that I can begin to think about getting fertilizer on.

[Bluey]

Here our grain elevators sell liquid fertilizer.
May want to ask your local ones.

[Unfforgettable]

I just bought some fertilizer in bags that you mix with water and apply, and you can use herbicides with it. If you’d like, I will look at the bags tomorrow when I go out to the barn.

[Guilherme]

@Unfforgettable

I just bought some fertilizer in bags that you mix with water and apply, and you can use herbicides with it. If you’d like, I will look at the bags tomorrow when I go out to the barn.

Thank you, that would be helpful. I’ve read about these in a couple of comments but no links to products and they’ve not shown up in my searches except for one product in five pound bags for home gardeners. That is not terribly helpful at this point!

G.

[ASB_Stars]

They can’t keep this in stock- sells out quickly!

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-liquid-lawn-pasture-fertilizer-20-0-0-with-micronutrients-2-1-2-gal

[Bluey]

@ASB Stars

They can’t keep this in stock- sells out quickly!

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr…ents-2-1-2-gal

Looks like they also have that with a herbicide already added to it?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-pasture-pro-plus-one-step-weed-feed-15-0-0-2-1-2-gal?cm_vc=IOPDP2

[ASB_Stars]

@Bluey

Looks like they also have that with a herbicide already added to it?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-pasture-pro-plus-one-step-weed-feed-15-0-0-2-1-2-gal?cm_vc=IOPDP2

Yup. But he asked for fertilizer. TSC sells every variety of mix under the sun. But he asked for fertilizer. :lol:

[Bluey]

@ASB Stars

Yup. But he asked for fertilizer. TSC sells every variety of mix under the sun. But he asked for fertilizer. :lol:

I was adding that because the OP stated:

—" — It would be an excellent idea if I could find a good quality liquid fertilizer that meets my needs and even better if I could mix herbicides with the fertilizer. That would save a lot of money on diesel and tractor time."—

[Unfforgettable]

@Guilherme The stuff I use is from Peters. They have several different kinds, the 20-20-20 works best for my soil. Will send a link to where I bought it via PM.

[Guilherme]

@Unfforgettable

@Guilherme The stuff I use is from Peters. They have several different kinds, the 20-20-20 works best for my soil. Will send a link to where I bought it via PM.

Thank you. I will check this out!

G.

[ChocoMare]

I don’t know much detail but I do know, where I used to self-care board my horses, they did organic hay for many years using liquid Fish Emulsion. The results were amazing. Granted, the smell for a few days wasn’t pleasant if you were down-wind, but it was worth it. May be something worth poking into?

[DMK]

I’ve used both the liquid fertilizer and fertilizer herbicide mix from tsc. That was primarily because I didn’t have a spreader for dry fertilizer. It was ok, but I wasn’t thrilled with the results from the combination so I went back to doing them separately. There’s a few weeds… (Cough cough teaweed cough cough) that need extra herbicide saturation so individual attention is warranted. But I have to work small acreage that is carefully managed in non growing months. Now I have atow along spreader, so no more liquid fertilizer. I still use pasture pro has a herbicide though…

[jawa]

Most of the liquid Nitrogen I have found is a Urea type. I thought this was not a great type of Nitrogen for horse pastures. Am I wrong? Are there liquid Nitrogen products out there that are not Urea based?

[carman_liz]

@jawa

Most of the liquid Nitrogen I have found is a Urea type. I thought this was not a great type of Nitrogen for horse pastures. Am I wrong? Are there liquid Nitrogen products out there that are not Urea based?

I don’t know about liquid, but I have heard that urea can cause founder. I used 100lbs each of lime and triple 19 on my acre or so two weekends ago and my grass is already much greener though. I have my two off that field till April, and as soon as this rain will dang stop…I am going to level and till my quarter acre area with the chain harrow and then do that one with 50lbs of each. I have them off that till April too as of this past weekend. My local Southern States said I could put them back out after one rain, but I feel better letting the urea really soak in for a couple weeks at least to dissipate and avoid hoof contact. If you find a good non urea fertilizer anywhere please share it, nowhere in my area has any!

[Foxglove]

I’d get a soil sample first, then speak with the local extension agent. I did that and I put on Trimec and CorRon --Trimec is a broad leaf herbicide and CorRon is a fertilizer.
I am very hilly --but use a hand boom on the hills I can’t do with the tractor --works good. Both liquid, can do in one pass. $32/acre. I buy at Helena Chemical Co where I have my soil sample tested. They give me the mix percent each year.

[Guilherme]

@carman_liz

I don’t know about liquid, but I have heard that urea can cause founder. I used 100lbs each of lime and triple 19 on my acre or so two weekends ago and my grass is already much greener though. I have my two off that field till April, and as soon as this rain will dang stop…I am going to level and till my quarter acre area with the chain harrow and then do that one with 50lbs of each. I have them off that till April too as of this past weekend. My local Southern States said I could put them back out after one rain, but I feel better letting the urea really soak in for a couple weeks at least to dissipate and avoid hoof contact. If you find a good non urea fertilizer anywhere please share it, nowhere in my area has any!

Urea is not a great thing to use around horses but if you follow the standard practices (which usually means keeping the horses off a fertilized pasture until you have a rain or some days pass) means the risk is minimal.

Get a soil sample. It will save you time and money. This is an absolutely true statement and of the few absolutely true statements you will ever read on this service!!!

I never cuss the rain but I will speak badly about its parentage!!!

G.