Applying N to grassland now

[Cow1]

In the East Midlands we have been extremely dry since the start of the drought.

We have not had the traditional bounce of autumn grass that September and October usually gives us.

Usual policy for me will be to top dress end of August / start of September to extend the grazing season.

This year only some fields were done then and even they have struggled to respond due to soil moisture deficit.

We've had useful rain today and at last I would hope enough to promote more grass (apologies to anyone in the West that's had a deluge in the last few days)

N regs allow up to 80kg N / ha (max single dose 40kg/ha) on grassland after the 15th September closed period up until end of October.

Given that soil temperatures are still relatively high and forage for the winter is both short and expensive, I'm wondering whether a quick 40 kg/ha N would be worthwhile.

Anyone else done/doing this?

 

[Zippy768]

With it being so dry this year and growth having been slow, I would have thought some grassland would have plenty of residual N about to see it through.

Personally I wouldn't put any on now. Growth will slow now as temperatures seem like they will be falling.

Having said that 40kg/h won't break the bank and might extend your grazing to avoid a long and tough winter.

He who dares wins, Rodders

 

[Kiwi Pete]

What form would you apply?
If you can get enough damp or tramp for urea to work (get a crystal ball) then it won't hurt to try it.
Nothing wrong with applying 2 or 3 days ahead of grazing as the plant won't have taken it in, but will protect the granule from heat provided there is enough cover to shade the soil.

 

[Global ovine]

Pointless if soil temperature is below 5 degrees C.
When soil moisture is scarce, urea is better sprayed on as a liquid. Urea onto dry soils without rainfall risks large losses as ammonia to the atmosphere......like burning money.
Sulphate of ammonia has much less loss, but soil temperature overrides moisture for response.

After drought, soils usually have adequate N reserves due to root death and a clover flush. Clovers do better than most grasses when soils dry and get prolonged temperatures over 15 deg. C.

 

[Skintagain]

It might be worth a tickle at the end of the day a few hundred pound isn’t go My to go far buying forage this year

 

[neilo]

What sort of grass? I applied a sprinkle a week ago to some IRG/Festulolium that I slot seeded in, just before running a mob of sheep over it to knock the recovering old grass down. That IRG has certainly responded to it already and is roaring away.
Old, less productive grasses will shut down at higher temps, so probably not worth applying anything to those.

 

[Cow1]

Thanks for the replies.

I've got Urea in stock to use. High temperatures shouldn't be the issue now for volatilisation and it's damp today. Soil temperatures will be way over 5 deg C currently.

However it's only permanent pasture on parkland. Traditionally on this ground we do get a good late response to N and it can sometimes be the only application in the season.

I'm not over worried about losing it as 40kg/ha isn't a lot and even if it didn't use it now I'm pretty sure it would still get used up.

Really it comes down to economics. I have just over 40 ha to do = 3.6 tonnes of Urea. The Urea I have in stock is cheap but I really need to cost at replacement cost so estimate £300/t
For 40 ha's cost £1080

Silage in our area last week made over £30 per bale at a farm sale, so that would be 36 bales of silage equivalent extra that the 40 ha would have to produce in response to the N.

 

[Water Wheel]

We applied N to half the farm at end of Sept, but I don't think I should have done, the whole farm is very dark green, no evidence of anything running out of N , but we are fairly intensive grassland, soil reserves will probably be high and are clearly being released.
The situation might be different on low intensity park land , or fields of low fertility.

 

[JD-Kid]

if. temps dropping. will you use. the full amount of N up before it get's too cold
maybe. a lower. rate. will give the. kick needed with out. alot of waste
there will be a fair bit in the. soil left over from. dryer summer. so will kick off. once rains. come

it's a cheep way to buy feed if it works
do you get a good response to N on fields. if not the. lift may not be. huge

 

[milkloss]

Round here there seems to a lot of N around that wasn’t used in the dry weather. Grass is absolutely flying here now. It did have some N poked on it mid August but it’s way outgrown what it had put on it.

 

[General-Lee]

Guessing you’re not in a nvz?

 

[Cow1]

Guessing you’re not in a nvz?

Yes I am, these are the rules unless I've interpreted them wrong.

 

[General-Lee]

Yes I am, these are the rules unless I've interpreted them wrong. View attachment 727674View attachment 727676

Looks like you need a dispensation to spread in a closed period.

 

[neilo]

Looks like you need a dispensation to spread in a closed period.

Not for up to 40kg N/ha at any one time (x2), for grassland up until the end of October, according to that table. Any more would be risking wasting it anyway.

 

[General-Lee]

Not for up to 40kg N/ha at any one time (x2), for grassland up until the end of October, according to that table. Any more would be risking wasting it anyway.

Ah yes misread it, if that’s the case may go back to my boss as he poo pooed it when we suggested putting a bit on the grass.