Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Making Your Fertilizer Investment
Less Risky and More Efficient
Outline
• Comparing nutrient sources
• Risk of Nitrate Toxicity
• Control of N volatilization
Dennis Hancock, PhD.
Extension Forage Agronomist
UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
• Use of legumes
Hay Production – 2008
Fertilizer
Cost Breakdown
Get a Grip on Your Forage^Costs
23%
52%
6%
5%
N
$0.50
3%
10%
Fertilizer
Interest on Var. Costs
Labor
Fuel & Repairs
Pesticides
Fixed & Mgmt Costs
Hybrid Bermudagrass Yield
Response to N Rate
12.0
Average or “Normal” Response
10.0
@15% moisture
K
$0.70
-
14.0
12.0
(tons/A)
P
$0.50
Hybrid Bermudagrass Yield
Response to N Rate
14.0
Forage Yield
-
10.0
8.0
Forage Yield
(tons/A)
6.0
@15% moisture
8.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
0
100
200
300
400
500
Nitrogen Rate
(lbs N/A)
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
600
700
800
0
100
200
300
400
500
Nitrogen Rate
(lbs N/A)
600
700
800
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
The False Economy of Shortcuts
Do you really need anything else…
Cost of Production Compared to Average
Yield
(t/ac)
8
60% 75% 90% 100% 110% 125%
$56
$71
$85
$94
$103
$118
7
6
5
4
$64
$75
$90
$113
$80
$94
$113
$141
$96
$113
$135
$169
3
$150
$188
$225
$107
$125
$150
$188
$118
$138
$165
$207
$134
$156
$188
$235
$250
$275
$313
Adapted from R.C. Lacy, 2008
Soil Test and Follow Fertility
Recommendations
DO NOT cut back on lime!
Get your priorities right!
1. Lime is still job #1.
Sample 1/3 of your pastures each year
and hayfields every year.
How Soil pH Affects Availability of Plant Nutrients
The Difference of a soil pH of 5.8 vs. 6.2
Amt. Used
Nutrient Annually
Unit
Price
Dec. in
Efficiency
(Lbs/acre)
($/lb)
N
200
$0.85
20%
P2O5
50
$0.80
25%
K2O
150
$0.60
10%
($/acre)
Total
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
Value of
Decrease
-$34
-$10
-$ 9
-$53
Fertilization Strategies
Hayfield 2 & 3
pH = 5.5
P = 15
K = 90
OM = 1.5%
Hayfield 1
pH = 6.0
P = 25
K = 120
OM = 2.5%
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Another Fertilization Trick
A Fertilization Trick
Avoid the Use of Standard Blends
Fertilizer Strategy
- Product Used
Price, $/acre
$367.65
Blended Fertilizer
- 17-17-17
1471
- Urea (46-0-0)
- DAP (18-46-0)
- Potash (0-0-60)
$367.65
• Long-term, this can increase yields by 5-10% and
increase NUE by 25-30%
$263.69
Mixed Fertilizer
488
141
375
$85.43
$28.26
$150.00
ƒ Especially important under extremes
¾ Leaching
¾ Volatilization (in the case of urea-based products)
¾ Late freeze
¾ Drought
$164.00
Poultry Litter
- 3-3-2
- Potash
Split Your Nitrogen Applications!
lbs of product/acre
8000
110
$120.00
$44.00
• Helps to prevent NITRATE TOXICITY!
Target Fertilizer Rate: 250-65-225 (Assumes Medium Soil Test Level P & K)
Monitor Climate Predictions
N Concentration in the Forage Crop
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Growth of the Crop
Nitrate Conc. in the Crop
Days of Growth
N Concentration in the Forage Crop
N Concentration in the Forage Crop
3 x Rec. Rate
2 x Rec. Rate
Rec. Rate
2 x Rec. Rate
5000 ppm
Rec. Rate
Drought
Days of Growth
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
Days of Growth
Nitrate Conc. in the Crop
5000 ppm
Nitrate Conc. in the Crop
3 x Rec. Rate
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Another Fertilization Trick
Account for N Loss from Urea-based Products
+ H20
Urea
Ammonia
AN
34-0-0
urease
Ammonium+
Nitrate-
The Effectiveness of Some Alternative N Sources at
Low, Medium, and High Fertilization Rates on Hybrid
Bermudagrasses (Relative to Ammonium Nitrate).
Nitrogen Source
Fertilization Rates
< 200 lbs*
Ammonium Nitrate
Amm. Sulfate
Anhyd. Ammonia
UAN Solution
Urea
250-350 lbs
> 400 lbs
100%
100%
100%
95-97%
95-105%
60-70%
92-94%
93-95%
94-95%
80-85%
85-92%
92-95%
79-82%
82-92%
88-93%
Alternative N Sources
Take-home message:
If you have to use a urea-based product, be careful
about cutting your rate back too much.
- They are relatively less effective at low rates.
* Actual lbs of N per acre per year.
Source: Burton and Jackson, 1962; Silveria et al., 2007.
Volatility Control?
Another Fertilization Trick
Apply P in late summer or fall.
• P can essentially be applied any time during
the year on established forage crops.
• Purchase P fertilizer in “off-peak” times of
the year (i.e., summer and fall)
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
Demand for the product is low
Demand for spreading services is low
Less risk of P runoff
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Another Fertilization Trick
Split Your Potassium Applications!
K is for Persistence
Not Competitive
Leafspot Diseases
Poor Winterhardiness
Grows Very Slow
Poor Stress Tolerance
40-50%
in the Spring
The Stand is Gone!
50-60%
in mid – late season
K is the Key to a Good Stand
Benefits of Adding Legumes
A valuable source of N (time-released).
Species
Alfalfa
200-300
$170-255
Red clover
100-200
$85-170
White clover
100-150
50-150
$85-128
$43-128
Annual clover
Quality Differences in the
Major Forage Species
Digestible DM, %
High
Production
Legumes
Tropical Annual
Grasses
50
Tropical Perennial
Grasses
60
Cool Season Perennial
Grasses
70
Cool Season Annual Grasses
80
Mod.
Production
40
Maint.
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
Annual lbs
N value at
(N/acre) $0.85/lb. of N
Use Legumes to the Extent Possible
Top 4 Uses of Legumes
in Georgia
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
4) Summer Annual N Crops
•
•
•
•
3) Winter Annual N Crops
Forage Soybeans (Hay/Silage)
Cowpeas (Hay/Silage)
Annual lespedezas (Pasture)
Others
BH: Overseeding CSA
in Bermuda hayfields
CC: Cover crop
PO: Pecan Orchard
Photo Credit: Dr. Twain Butler
3) Winter Annual N Crops
• Crimson clover (BH, CC, PO)
• Ball clover (PO)
• White clover* (PO)
• Arrowleaf clover (CC, PO)
• Red clover* (CC, PO)
2) Grow with the grass
Pasture
• White Clover
ƒ Close: Durana
ƒ Tall: Patriot
ƒ Short Duration: Osceola
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
The effect of annual clover addition on
‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields.
Treatment
1965
1966
1967
1968
-------------- dry lbs/acre -------------Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre
22500
22300
17500
24500
Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre
24000
21600
16500
27100
No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre
17100
19800
15400
21600
7700
6600
3500
6200
No Clover; 0 N
Location: Starkville, MS
Source: Knight, W.E. 1970. Agron. J. 62:773-775.
Benefits of Adding White Clover
Lessen the effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Effect of Tall Fescue, Endophyte, and White
Clover on Stocker Production in the Spring
ADG
Gain
(lbs/hd/d)
(lb/acre)
1.10
1.83
1.60
2.61
126
186
150
252
E+
NE
E+ & WC
NE & WC
Species
Jesup Tall Fescue and Durana White Clover. 3-yr trial. Eatonton, GA.
Hill, Andrae, and Bouton (unpublished data)
2) Grow with the grass
Pasture
• White Clover
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Value of Legume Establishment
Cost of Adding
Legume to Ryegrass
N Needed
to BE*
cost/lb
cost/acre
Arrowleaf
$2.00
$12
------ lbs N/acre -----16
50-110
Crimson
$1.80
$27
36
70-140
W. Clover
$6.50
$20
27
30-60
Red Clover
$3.00
$24
32
50-130
* Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased
(e.g., $12 per acre / $0.75 per lb of N = 16 lbs of N fixed per acre)
1) Grazed Winter Annual Forage
Systems
Overseeding CSA into Bermuda
• Ryegrass (Annual)
• Arrowleaf clover
• Rye
• Crimson clover
• Oats
• Red clover*
• Wheat
• Triticale
Close: Durana, Resolute
Tall: Patriot, Will
Short Duration: Will
Hayfield
• Red clover (w/ CSP Grass)
• Alfalfa (w/ CS or WSP Grass)
• Not many will compete
Effect of Annual Clover on Cow-Calf Grazing
Days on Coastal Bermudagrass (3 yr avg.)
Effect of Annual Clover on Cow-Calf
Performance on Coastal Bermudagrass (3 yr avg.)
Cows
Species Overseeded
on Bermuda Sod
N
Added
Grazing
Days
Species Overseeded
on Bermuda Sod
Jan 8 – Oct 5
268
Rye-Arrowleaf-Crimson
0
Mar 11 – Oct 5
211
Arrowleaf-Crimson
Ryegrass
150
Feb 14 – Oct 5
240
No Annuals
100
Apr 6 – Oct 5
187
Grazing Dates
(lbs/A/yr)
Rye-Arrowleaf-Crimson
Arrowleaf-Crimson
100
Hoveland et al., 1978. Agron. J. 70:418-420.
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist
Expected
N Fixation
Calves
Gain/
Acre
N
Added
ADG
(lbs/A/yr)
---------------- (lbs) ----------------
ADG
100
0.90
1.91
510
0
1.37
1.94
410
Ryegrass
150
0.18
1.76
420
No Annuals
100
0.49
1.57
290
Hoveland et al., 1978. Agron. J. 70:418-420.
Strategies for Tight Budgets and Minimal Risk
Making Your Fertilizer Investment Less Risky and More Efficient
Hay Production
School 2009
April 21
UGA – Griffin Campus
www.georgiaforages.com
Grazing School 2009
September 22-23
UGA-Athens
Livestock Arena
www.georgiaforages.com
QUESTIONS?
www.georgiaforages.com
Dr. Dennis Hancock
Extension Forage Agronomist