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"I havent decided yet :-)". Pros and cons. The best growers, that I try to learn from all tell me to fertilize after first and second with 100# of DAP and 100# of muriate. Then they fertilize with P & K to soil test in the fall, some use Boron and some dont, depends on soils. They dont fertilize before the 1st cutting to reduce the grass yield (and increase the RFV) of the hay. I've tried that, and tried putting it all in up front, and all in the fall (I do sample every field, every year). Last year I took a leap of faith and didnt fertilize any field that tested high. Couldnt tell it made much difference. So far, this year I tried putting my money where my soil test was calling for it and bought 25 tons of muriate and only 3 tons of DAP (plus my ammonium nitrate). Biggest surprise was in wheat, where I put the full K rate on my yields tripled, got more bang than I did out of the nitrogen). K is your big need b/c it reduces winter kill and longivity of stand. Have to watch putting too much down as alfalfa will take up excess K. P is of little concern here b/c 80% of our soils test naturally above the detectable range of the lab. Yet no matter how much we over apply K it is almost impossible to build up much (very high CEC of soils). I still havent given you an answer to your question :-). So much depends on how much you put down up front in relation to your soil test. I'd like to see 50% of it down up front and 50% after the second cutting. Maybe if you give me your soil test results and what you already put down (as well as soil type, name if you have it) I can tell you better.
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