Urea on hay fields

JD Farmer

Member
We finally finished first cutting and now I would like to do something to improve the amount of second cutting. These are grass fields, that produce around 4-5 big 4x5 bales of hay per acre.

I am thinking of spreading urea on them since we have rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. What do you guys say on this matter?
I just priced it at $342 per ton. How many pounds to shoot for per acre?
 
I would think 100 lbs of product would be a good place to be. 46 lbs of N. Don't forget to order a good rain, too.
 
75 or so units of n in my area. They usually recommend a 2-1 mixture of n to k here since you are taking nutrients away with the hay. Is that 4-5 bales per acre per year? What type of hay?
 
With the heat of the summer I use 18-46-0/DAP rather than Urea as the DAP will not vaporize as easily. I push my hay ground so right after second crop I put 100 lbs. of DAP, 200 lbs. Pot ash, 7 lbs. of Boron and 20 lbs. of sulfur per acre. I usually get 6-7 ton per acre out of four cuttings.
 
Southern States, local co ops, or Co Ag bureau can often do analysis of your soils, and based on your crop types give you guidance on proper application. For example if you have legumes like clover with your grass it may not require much nitrogen. Take shallow soil samples from a few places and composite them. Waste money by guessing what is needed for your specific conditions. My Orchardgrass hay fields tested for adding 50 lbs per acre of nitrogen and 120 lbs potash per acre after hay cuttings.
 
DAP is Diammonium phosphate or 18-46-00. We use this mainly in the spring and summer. In the fall we switch to MAP or Monoammonium phosphate which is 11-52-00.
 
Please check with your fert dealer. Years ago I was at a fert meeting and remember something about sunlight breaking down urea. The specialist told us dry urea needs to be worked in. Now this has been close to 40 years ago, please check with a specialist.
 
My read is work it in or it will evaporate.....rain or with steel. Sooner the better. I'd wait closer to the rain if broadcasting and not covering, like the day before. I think up to 3 days is not worth worrying about on loss.....as I read.

My experience on how much is put on what you want and incorporate it. If the plants don't use it this year they will use it the next....as long as you don't get a flood and wash it and the topsoil away. My soil samples come from TAMU at $10 a pop.
 

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