improving grass with better grass fert's

[Matt]

anyone on here think the product does a good job and is worth the money?

We have some old pasture which due to other circumstances isn't possible to be re seeded any time soon.
was wondering how much of a improvement if any has people seen in the grass from using it?

I know someone who has used it last year and he is sitting on fence at present, he said he cant argue with the minerals in the forage and silage been higher, but hasn't noticed any real noticeable difference in the yield.

he is thinking about using it again but splitting fields to see it side by side.
seems to add up cost wise when added to what ever the ground costs.

thanks

 

[Mark C]

You can't improve the grass with fertiliser, just maximise it's potential. Get the soil tested , get the nutrient balance and pH right and dig some holes to identify any compaction issues.

 

[neilo]

You can't improve the grass with fertiliser, just maximise it's potential. Get the soil tested , get the nutrient balance and pH right and dig some holes to identify any compaction issues.

To be fair, Bettergrass will go some way to addressing a lot of those issues, if the exist. It's basically slag, salt and a few trace elements IIRC. I used it one year, and saw improved levels of TE's (on their testing). However, the pH lift would only be very temporary, whereas lime would last several years. I have high molybdenum here, so need to supplement with copper. I figured that, if I'm giving a bolus to do that, I may as well use one to supplement the Cobalt & Selenium too, which negated the other benefits of the Bettergrass IMO.

To improve old pasture, get the pH right, get P&K levels right (Fibrophos?), and improve grazing management. The more productive grasses and clover will thrive and the pasture makeup will improve over a couple of years.

 

[Matt]

To be fair, Bettergrass will go some way to addressing a lot of those issues, if the exist. It's basically slag, salt and a few trace elements IIRC. I used it one year, and saw improved levels of TE's (on their testing). However, the pH lift would only be very temporary, whereas lime would last several years. I have high molybdenum here, so need to supplement with copper. I figured that, if I'm giving a bolus to do that, I may as well use one to supplement the Cobalt & Selenium too, which negated the other benefits of the Bettergrass IMO.

To improve old pasture, get the pH right, get P&K levels right (Fibrophos?), and improve grazing management. The more productive grasses and clover will thrive and the pasture makeup will improve over a couple of years.

One field out of the 2 the ph is fine. I think it's more down to I can't Farm it how I want to. If I could have it long term I would grassland subsoil lime and put p and k on then look at bettergrass products to look at TE 's but I can't hence why looking at in season products.

Just wondered if anyone had seen a improvement in grass production.

 

[neilo]

I didn't see any improvement in production.

If the pH is fine, I'd consider Fibrophos. It would add p&K, a bit of salt and Ca (much of what Bettergrass would do, at lower cost).

 

[Matt]

So it would be fair assumption to say it's a expensive way of getting TE and minerals into stock?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I have a feeling it's often cheaper to just 'roll yer own' much of the time, especially if you can't graze it the way you'd like to.
I'd suggest the cheapest form of lime, salt, and any trace elements/minerals you feel you need
Easy to say from here, but it works, esp the salt IME

 

[salers]

High Moly here, found that correcting ph made lock up from Moly worse.
TE levels fine , but if I go from avg ph of 5.2-5.5 to say 6-6.5 hit real problems with lockup and livestock health issues.
Looking at grasses that thrive in acidic conditions, am I right in thinking cocksfoot would be one?

 

[Great In Grass]

High Moly here, found that correcting ph made lock up from Moly worse.
TE levels fine , but if I go from avg ph of 5.2-5.5 to say 6-6.5 hit real problems with lockup and livestock health issues.
Looking at grasses that thrive in acidic conditions, am I right in thinking cocksfoot would be one?

You are right about Cocksfoot and if you need to add clover have a look at Alsike clover.

 

[salers]

Is poisoning a problem with Alsike clover?

 

[Great In Grass]

Is poisoning a problem with Alsike clover?

That's associated more with horses I believe, it goes in almost all of our herbal leys with no ill effect.