When To Fertilise After First Cut.

[Seth470]

Just wondering when people fertilise after first cut. We Cut Our first cut Hay Monday and baled Sunday. We are hoping to get another cut of hay or silage. Planning on spreading 34.5% Nitram at a rate of 100KG an Acre.

 

[Steevo]

Before it rains.

 

[michael N123]

Tomorrow/Wednesday morning

 

[Seth470]

Before it rains.

Does it not matter if the grass is not established enough

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Does it not matter if the grass is not established enough

No

 

[neilo]

Does it not matter if the grass is not established enough

You are applying fertiliser to be taken up by the roots, how ‘established’ the grass is is irrelevant.

A bit of potash (& Sulphur obviously) wouldn’t go amiss either, if you have taken a load off with a hay crop.

 

[Andrew1983]

Changing the subject slightly if I can, what fert do others use after first cut? I normally use a mulitcut fert something like a 22.4.14 but wondering if I should just use straight N. P and K got a fair dose in April (52 units of each and soil indices are meduim), hardly any rain since then so thinking most of it should still be available..... How many units of N for another cut in 2 months?

 

[Steevo]

Does it not matter if the grass is not established enough

The root structure is already there to start absorbing it.

I planted my spring barley with half the fertiliser in the seedbed. The crop had neither root nor shoot at the time, but I needed to be sure it was there for the crop as soon as it did have roots. No good me applying it after the crop had grown only to find it never had any rain to wash it in so the roots could access it.

Moisture to activate it is the most important stage. Without that nothing else matters.

 

[Agrivator]

Has there been much work on the type of fertiliser, ground conditions, and moisture levels, on how quickly it is available to the roots?

Stable compound fertiliser, versus Ammonium Nitrate, versus Urea, versus Liquid Fertiliser. And whether or not it is going to rain?

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Changing the subject slightly if I can, what fert do others use after first cut? I normally use a mulitcut fert something like a 22.4.14 but wondering if I should just use straight N. P and K got a fair dose in April (52 units of each and soil indices are meduim), hardly any rain since then so thinking most of it should still be available..... How many units of N for another cut in 2 months?

I use single top for second cut . I think the ground likes the bit of sulphur . 100 k to acre .

 

[Oldmacdonald]

Changing the subject slightly if I can, what fert do others use after first cut? I normally use a mulitcut fert something like a 22.4.14 but wondering if I should just use straight N. P and K got a fair dose in April (52 units of each and soil indices are meduim), hardly any rain since then so thinking most of it should still be available..... How many units of N for another cut in 2 months?

60 days. 2 units per growing day? 150kg N per ha.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

How much rain do we need to make it worth putting n back on grass now?

 

[Werzle]

I left mine a week to green up a little before applying nitram and 2000 gallons p/ac of dirty water. I usually apply the fert the day after silaging but with it being so dry i couldnt see the point, so i waited for the rain shower on the 22nd may. Nice green mat of grass there now which should grow on if we get tomorrows rain.

 

[CollCrofter]

How much rain do we need to make it worth putting n back on grass now?

A good dew will do the job to get the fert absorbed

 

[Hfd Cattle]

I left mine a week to green up a little before applying nitram and 2000 gallons p/ac of dirty water. I usually apply the fert the day after silaging but with it being so dry i couldnt see the point, so i waited for the rain shower on the 22nd may. Nice green mat of grass there now which should grow on if we get tomorrows rain.

Trouble is 'tomorrow' never comes . It's looking less likely for us now .

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

A good dew will do the job to get the fert absorbed

yes appreciate that- but a good dew won’tget grass growing to make use of nitrogen

 

[CollCrofter]

yes appreciate that- but a good dew won’tget grass growing to make use of nitrogen

Understand that. We've not much rain forecast for a couple of days or so yet so hopefully we'll all get some soon ?

The dew in the morning and night is certainly keeping the grass going a wee bit here, albeit minimal but better than burning up. Once we get a hit of rain it'll be bouncing hopefully!

 

[The sheep dipper man]

Just wondering when people fertilise after first cut. We Cut Our first cut Hay Monday and baled Sunday. We are hoping to get another cut of hay or silage. Planning on spreading 34.5% Nitram at a rate of 100KG an Acre.

I cut mine on Sunday, baling it today and spreading fert tonight god knows when we may next get rain again, as long as grass is established it will be fine

 

[neilo]

yes appreciate that- but a good dew won’tget grass growing to make use of nitrogen

I work on the theory that a dew will take it in, then it's ready to fly when we do get the rain........ as long as it's not too long arriving of course, of the N won't do anything.

 

[michael N123]

I work on the theory that a dew will take it in, then it's ready to fly when we do get the rain........ as long as it's not too long arriving of course, of the N won't do anything.

Some mornings there’s a dew then you see steam rising off the fields when The sun comes out