Liquid Fertilizer for Hay Fields

12251HD · Nov 30, 2010

I am considering spraying liquid fertilizer on my hay fields this coming year vs dry fertilizer application; one of my neighbors gets great results on his alfalfa fields. Any advice or thoughts?

RayP(MI) · Nov 30, 2010

Wish my father-in-law was still alive. He used and sold a lot of liquid fertilizer - was quite successful with it.

IBorange in TX · Nov 30, 2010

I use liquid fertiz..on my coastal hay fields. It is cheaper and a lot less loss. The spray hits the leaves of the grass and is absorbed into the plant then not later. The pellet fertiz.. will lay on the ground until some moisture comes along to carry it into the soil to the roots of the plant. The nitrogen in the liq fert.. is instantly on the leaves and into the plant and you loose no nitrogen. I have been using the liq fertiz for 6 yrs now, would not go back to the pellet kind. Example cut/baled 20A of coastal, results was 48 bales, then sprayed the fertliz...on and a month later, cut again, results was 42 bales, repeat the procedure for the third cutting and got 38bales(all are round bales).
IMOP, I would say liq fert.. is the way to go.

BCnT · Nov 30, 2010

i use banded liquid fertilizer on my native grasses...it doesnt burn as much as broadcasted pellets if rains a lil slow to hit...its way cheaper but it doesnt have enuff residue for multiple cuttings like pellets so price wise it equals out.

Tx Jim · Dec 1, 2010

Are all types of liquid fert the type that the leaves absorbs the fert or is there a special kind? Are you referring to commercial or organic fert?

showcrop · Dec 1, 2010

That is interesting. I had not heard of nitrogen being absorbed by the leaves before. Do you have info on this that you could point me to?

Willy P · Dec 1, 2010

What kind of liquid fertilize are you using? I have tried some of the liquid fertilize that is granular and you dissolve it in water and spray it on and didn't have any good results.

WAYNE-N-TX · Dec 1, 2010

The one we use states on the bag that you still need to feed the plant. The liquid fertilizer is used for a fast start. So, chicken litter, three tons per acre once a year, and spray thirty days before cutting.

Tom-TX · Dec 1, 2010

Only problem around here with liquid fertillize is the folks that sell it. Unless it comes in sealed containers, that you unseal or see unsealed in your presence, you are apt to get ripped off. These locals can easily dilute the mixture by 30 percent too much water and up their profit margin by an extra 30 percent and you cannot tell it - no way. You can make a very good living selling water and charging for fertilizer.
Granular fertilizer gos across the scales in your presence.
Tom

chuck bolton · Dec 1, 2010

i have in the past used and sold lots of liquid fertilizer-- i consider them foliar feeds--its great for the current crop-- but really doesnt do anything for the soil--if you get your soil analysis corrected-- alot of your other problems will come around-- the blaming of the salesman or the fertilizer company is generally in fact the fault of the end users--"it doesnt perform the miracles that they expect to or that was promised" -- are there unscrupulous folks out there? im sure there are. my personal experience-- do your own research- find sals person that you trust-- if you get the soil right-- fertilization becomes easy and you will see results-- in that field conditions and weather patterns vary year to year-- its often hard to document good results--

sdc eastern Iowa · Dec 1, 2010

I'm a partner in a fertilizer dealership. If you are going to use a liquid use a LOW SALT starter based foiler. We recommend 11-52-60 AFTER the first cutting and in the spring 20 to 46 units of dry urea and have had good results. Sulfur would be a benifit also. I recommend taking soil tests.

hayray · Dec 1, 2010

I just never understood how you can get enough nutrient on using liquid as compared to granular. Based on the normal volume of water and percentages of nutrient I can't see how you meet crop removal? Can those of you who use this explain that to me?

usetob · Dec 1, 2010

foliar feeding is the fastest way to get nutrients to a plant. Cotton farmers have been doing it for years with great results!

Tx Jim · Dec 2, 2010

(quoted from post at 13:25:22 12/01/10) Only problem around here with liquid fertillize is the folks that sell it. Unless it comes in sealed containers, that you unseal or see unsealed in your presence, you are apt to get ripped off. These locals can easily dilute the mixture by 30 percent too much water and up their profit margin by an extra 30 percent and you cannot tell it - no way. You can make a very good living selling water and charging for fertilizer.
Granular fertilizer gos across the scales in your presence.
Tom

I got some dry fert a couple of years ago at El Dorado Chem Co and a rep for the state took a sample as buggy was being loaded. He sent me a copy of the report that stated fert passed the correct formulation test.

Local seed/fert co(not El Dorado) just got nabbed by the state of Texas for doing exactly what you stated. They have also been cited for putting ground up limestone filler in dry fert.

Tx Jim · Dec 2, 2010

(quoted from post at 23:42:23 11/30/10) I use liquid fertiz..on my coastal hay fields. It is cheaper and a lot less loss. I would say liq fert.. is the way to go.

When you state cheaper are you comparing the same amts of N/P/K?

What brand fert do you use? Do it happen to be Tosca fert from New Waverly?

Liquid Fertilizer for Hay Fields

12251HD

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RayP(MI)

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IBorange in TX

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BCnT

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Tx Jim

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showcrop

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Willy P

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WAYNE-N-TX

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Tom-TX

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chuck bolton

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sdc eastern Iowa

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hayray

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usetob

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Tx Jim

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Tx Jim

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