Grazing to spread NPK

[Coximus]

As it says!

I’ve identified several camps on my new rented ground where the PK is running at 4 & 5 over the southern boundaries of fields (total area 3ac), but the rest of the 24ac is between 0-1. This is the result of half of it being let for horses for 10 years, and the rest of it being range grazed by sheep and cattle for 30 years.

The land is on a 3y FBT, Grazing only, no cutting, no cultivating, so im loath to put £4k of fertilizer on it.
Fields are all 4-6ac. (x5 of).
So, how should I graze to stop the camp effect and spread the good?
Its obivous where, as the grass has grown 4inch in a week in the camp-belt and 3mm at most over the rest of the site!

 

[neilo]

I doubt you'll spread what little existing P&K there is by grazing stock, or not enough to see any benefit within 3 years.
If you are sure you have it for 3 yrs, I'd think about a dose of a Fibrophos on the worst fields in year one, which should see you covered for the 3 yrs. a hearty dose would cost less than £1k to do the 20ac, delivered & spread, and a once only cost (unless you happen to get it again after the three years).

 

[Coximus]

subject to me not poaching the place to hell like the horse folk before hand, I can add 4 years to the deal at end of year 2..... being compared to Equine tenants I think it reasonable to plan for longer, given Ive already done the hedges and sprayed the 3ac of thistles and 5ac of nettles out! LL wants me for 7, but I dont want to tie in until i see what post Brexit has to offer Subs wise, as the LL wants to fix rent at one level for whole time.

Would cutting and spreading the good areas work? Or strip grazing?

 

[neilo]

subject to me not poaching the place to hell like the horse folk before hand, I can add 4 years to the deal at end of year 2..... being compared to Equine tenants I think it reasonable to plan for longer, given Ive already done the hedges and sprayed the 3ac of thistles and 5ac of nettles out! LL wants me for 7, but I dont want to tie in until i see what post Brexit has to offer Subs wise, as the LL wants to fix rent at one level for whole time.

Would cutting and spreading the good areas work? Or strip grazing?

As above, I don't think it would spread the nutrients very quickly, although I'd guess there would be a very gradual effect, as long as you could prevent them from camping on the same ground. That would entail years of grazing on the 'good' bit, then shutting them on the other to cr*p at night. I'd really consider a dose of Fibrophos personally, and have more production over the lot to start with, most of which would get recycled continuously if you aren't baling and removing it.

As you've obviously tested it, I presume the pH was OK over all of it? If it's acidic, raising the pH will make P more available, which is as effective as (probably more so) applying any anew.