Fertility Central: Best Cost Options

and Recommendations

for Different Forages

Brian ClarkPrince Georges County

Extension Agent

Ben BealeSt. Mary’s County Extension Agent

Charts and Nutrient Recommendation supplied by

Adam Lyon, Nutrient Management Advisor, St. Mary’s Co.

Some slides and pictures adapted from:Dave Myers

Anne Arundel Extension Agent

Dave Myers

Ben Beale

Why worry about fertility?

Why worry about fertility?

Presentation Objectives

• Review basic fertility needs of forage crops– Basis for recommendations– Differences in legume v/s grass, yields, etc

• Review the commonly available nutrient sources– Understand the advantages and

disadvantages of each– Understand the cost per acre using these

nutrients

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Recommendations

Based on pre-plant soil tests and yield goal

The lower the soil test value, the higher the nutrient recommendation

Nitrogen RecommendationsNitrogen recommendations are based on crop and yield goals.

Forage Recommendations

Nitrogen recommendations are based on crop and yield goals.

Nitrogen Required to Achieve Average Yield

Orchard

grass

(3 t/

a)

Timoth

y (3 t/

a)

Mill

et (5 t/

a)

Sudangrass

(5 t/

a)

Sorghum

-Sudan (5 t/

a)

Teff (3

t/a)

Tall Fesc

ue (3 t/

a)

Reed Canarygra

ss (3

t/a)

Lespedeza (3

t/a)

Alfalfa

(5 t/

a)0

20406080

100120140160180200

150

180

150 150 150 150 150 150

0 0

2 2.5 3 3.5 40.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

200.0

50.065.0 70.0

85.0100.0

25.0

30.040.0

45.0

50.0

25.0

30.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

Pounds per Year of Nitrogen Required to Achieve Differing Orchardgrass Yields

Yield Goal (Tons/Acre)

LBS

Nit

roge

n/A

cre/

Yea

r

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Recommendations

• Based on pre-plant soil tests and yield goal

• The lower the soil test value, the higher the nutrient recommendation

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

150

114

78

53

37

20 20 20 20 20 20

0

Phosphorus (P) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield goal)

FIV-P

LBS

P20

5/A

cre

Optimum (51-100)

Excessive (>100)Low (0-

25)

Medium (26-50)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200200

164

128

100

75

5044

3832

2620

0

Potash (K) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Orchardgrass (3.0 tons/acre yield

goal)

FIV-K

LBS

K20

/Acr

e

Optimum (51-100)

Excessive (>100)Low (0-

25)

Medium (26-50)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100

20406080

100120140160180200220240260280300320340360 345

311

277

252231

210 201191

180170

160 160

Potash (K) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Alfalfa (5.0 tons/acre yield goal)

FIV-K

LBS

K20

/Acr

e

Optimum (51-100)

Excessive (>100)Low (0-

25)

Medium (26-50)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1100

20

40

60

80

100

120

105

89

73

60

48

35 33 31 29 27 25

0

Phosphorus (P) Recommendation (lbs/acre) as a function of Soil Fertility Level (FIV-K) for Alfalfa (5.0 tons/acre yield goal)

FIV-P

LBS

P20

5/A

cre

Optimum (51-100)

Excessive (>100)Low (0-

25)

Medium (26-50)

Good recommendations depend on good soil samples

UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu

Fertilizer Options?Fertility Inputs for Forages

Manure

Bio-SolidsCommercial Fertilizer

Legumes

Commercial Fertilizer• Advantages:

– Readily available– Easy to spread– Can apply exactly the amount needed for crop

growth– Nutrients typically available immediately

Commercial Fertilizer• Disadvantages

– Can be Expensive– Nutrients typically available immediately-

leaching– Doesn’t come with any organic matter

Commercial Fertilizer• Best Management Practices

– Soil Test on a regular basis.– Split apply Nitrogen according to crop growth

needs– Be aware of N loss pathways

• Urea-volatilizes quickly. Losses can exceed 50%• Apply shortly before a soaking rain to an

established sod, if possible.– Calibrate spreader and tractor driver

Commercial Fertilizer: Types and Costs

Analysis Price per Ton N P KNitrogenAmmonium Sulfate 21-0-0 24S 245.00$ 0.58$ Urea 46-0-0 425.00$ 0.46$

PhosphateDAP 18-46-0 500.00$ 0.46$ 0.36$ MAP 11-52-0 510.00$ 0.46$ 0.39$ Triple Super P 0-46-0 510.00$ 0.55$

PotashMuriate of Potash 0-0-60 460.00$ 0.38$

Comparing Nutrient Prices within Types of Fertilizers

$0.00

$0.10

$0.20

$0.30

$0.40

$0.50

$0.60

$0.70

$0.58

$0.46 $0.46 $0.46

$0.36$0.39

$0.55

$0.38 N P

K

Cost

per

Pou

nd

Poultry Litter

UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu

2 2.5 3 3.5 40.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

1.62.1 2.2

2.73.2

0.8

1.01.3

1.4

1.6

0.8

1.0

1.3

1.4

1.6

Perdue Poultry Litter Required (tons/acre) to Achieve Total Ni-trogen Requirement for Differing Orchardgrass Yields (tons/acre)

Yield Goal (Tons/Acre)

Po

ult

ry L

itte

r R

equ

ired

(T

on

s/A

cre)

Average Poultry Litter• Not incorporated, applied in three split

applications. • Cost-share program not currently

available. However, poultry litter does seem to be more available than last year.

Average Poultry Litter• The availability of Nitrogen from Poultry

Litter is dependent upon:– Mineralization rate

• Year 1: 50%• Year 2: 15%• Year 3: 8%

– Temperature• Average analysis for Perdue Poultry Litter:

– 3.0% N (0.3% Ammonium)– 2.5% P– 2.5% K

Figure 2- 4a. Distribution of available nitrogen from organic and ammonium nitrogen components in a typical broiler litter

Unavailable ammonium ni-trogen

Available ammonium ni-trogen

Available organic nitrogen

Unavailable organic nitrogen

This litter contains 60 pounds of total nitrogen and 36 pounds of available nitrogen per ton.

16 lb

20 lb

4 lb

20 lb

Average Poultry Litter• Poultry Litter will be available over a long

period of time- at least 3 years.• 1 ton of poultry litter in first year (No

incorporation) will give:– 31 lbs N– 50 lbs P– 50 lbs K

• Per 1.0 ton of Poultry Litter, N mineralized:– First Year: 31 lbs– Second Year: 10 lbs– Third Year: 5 lbs

Poultry Litter Cost

• Average Rate, including transportation from the shore is $35.00 per ton.

• If using Poultry Litter to only supply Nitrogen, it is a relatively expensive.

• 1 ton, broadcast and not incorporated supplies 31 pounds of Nitrogen.

• Thus, 1 lb of N from PL costs about $1.10 • This approach discounts the value any

other nutrients (P and K) supplied.

Poultry Litter Cost

• If using Poultry Litter to only supply Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash on deficient soils, it becomes more of a value.

• 1 ton, broadcast and not incorporated supplies 31 pounds of N, 50 lbs P and 50 lbs K.

• Thus, the cost to replace the entire nutrient value of poultry litter with fertilizer is: $51.26

Applying Poultry Litter to meet N needs will oversupply P

1 2 3 4 50

50

100

150

200

250

300

50

100

150

200

250

20 20 20 20 20

Tons of Poultry Litter Applied per Acre

Lbs

of P

Ap

pli

ed

Blue bar indicates the Phosphorus needed per acre to achieve a 3.0 ton/acre yield goal for Orchardgrass given a Fertility level (FIV-P) of Optimum (51).

Strategies for Poultry Litter• Strategy One:

– Use poultry litter as the first split application to meet any P and K needs.

– As need for P and K diminishes, turn to commercial fertilizer to fill the rest of the yearly nitrogen needs.

• Strategy Two:– Use poultry litter every other year on soils

testing optimal or above. – Monitor P soil levels with regular soil test

Orchardgrass Fertilization BudgetPoultry Litter

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -3 tons

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter 5 tons/A @ 35.00/ton 175.00

(No MDA cost share) Nitrogen 160 (150*) (amount negligible) 0.00Phosphorus 250 (20*) 0.00Potassium 250 (100*) 0.00

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 175.00Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Manure spreading 5 ton/acre 25.00 Stock pile Maintenance 10.00

Manure Application Costs 35.00Manure Fertilization Grand Total $210.00 Acre

(*) Amount required to supply N

 

 

Beef/Dairy/Swine Manure

UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu

Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic & Ammonium Nitrogen Components in a Typical

Dairy Manure (assumes incorporation the same day as application)

Unavailable am-monium nitrogen

Available ammonium nitrogen

Available organic nitrogen

Unavailable organic nitrogen

2.4 lb

3 lb

6 lb

0.6 lb

Average Manure Analysis 1989-1997

Available Stockpile Lagoon Nutrient lbs/ton lbs/1000gal N 3.0 0.24 P 7.0 1.34 K 16.0 5.02 Ca 8.0 1.13 Mg 3.0 0.69 S 1.5 0.05 Mn 0.08 0.004 Zn 0.05 0.002 Cu 0.02 0.003

USNAD, Gambrills MD: No-Tillage System

Tall Fescue Fertilization BudgetDairy/Beef Manure

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -5 tons

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/AcreManure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00Nitrogen 45 (150) 105 lbs @ .46/lb 48.30Phosphorus 105 (40) 0.00Potassium 240 (100) 0.00

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 48.30 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Manure cleanout 1.00/ton 15.00Manure spreading 15 ton/acre 22.00 Fertilizer spreading 12.00

Manure Application Costs 49.00Manure Fertilization Grand Total $97.30/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

Alfalfa Fertilization BudgetDairy/Beef Manure

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-medium; Yield Goal -6 tons

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/AcreManure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00Nitrogen 45 (0) 0.00Phosphorus 105 (80) 0.00Potassium 240 (250) 0.00

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 0.00 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Manure cleanout 1.00/ton 15.00Manure spreading 15 ton/acre 22.00 Fertilizer spreading 0

Manure Application Costs 37.00Manure Fertilization Grand Total $37.00 Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

Granulite 5-3-0• Use is similar to fertilizer. Dehydrated bio-

solid product.• Analysis of 5-3-0

– Mineralization rate of 50%• Contact: Cullin’s Lime for more info in St.

Mary’s• Advantages

– In-expensive, easy to spread, readily available in Baltimore.

Granulite 5-3-0• Advantages

– In-expensive, easy to spread, readily available in Baltimore or from local suppliers

• Dis-advanatages:– Organic material which must mineralize-

nutrients may not be available immediately– Slight odor, though not bad– Bio-solid type product may be an issue with

some landowners

2 2.5 3 3.5 40.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

1.11.4 1.5

1.82.1

0.5

0.60.9

1.0

1.1

0.5

0.6

0.9

1.0

1.1

Sludge Pellets (5-3-0) Required (tons/acre) to Achieve Total Ni-trogen Requirement for Differing Orchardgrass Yields (tons/acre)

Yield Goal (Tons/Acre)

Slu

dge

Pel

lets

Req

uir

ed (

To

ns/

Acr

e)

Total Amount of Nutrients Supplied at Different Rates of Granulite (5-3-0)

1 2 3 4 50

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

47

94

141

188

235

60

120

180

240

300

N P

K

Tons of Sludge Pellets Applied

LBS

of N

utri

ent S

uppl

ied

at G

iven

Rat

e

Granulite 5-3-0

Analysis Price per Ton N P KGranulite Pellets 5-3-0- 24 0.15 0.15

Liming Cost

Liming Cost

• Rule 1: Lime cost less than fertilizer.– Keep field pH in desirable ranges, especially

for alfalfa.

Cool Season Grasses: Most Legumes:Alfalfa:Annuals:

Domino’s Lime• May offer a good value compared to conventional lime.• By product of Domino Sugar refinement process located in

Baltimore , MD• Domino Lime may be obtained directly by contacting Tom Reilly,

Eastern Materials Inc. at 410 365-6839 or 410-439-1811.

2007 RatesDelivery Miles Charge/Ton Delivered 0-50 $ 5.68 51-70 $ 7.30 71-90 $ 8.92 91-110 $10.55 111-130 $12.17 131-149 $13.80 >150 $15.42 and up

Genstar Aglime Domino LimeMoisture 5.0% --CaO (calcium oxide) 51.0% 47.24%MgO (magnesium oxide) 1.0% 0.70%CaCO3 Equivalent (CCE) 93.0% 80.09%Pass 20 Mesh 98.0% 100.00%Pass 60 Mesh 80.0% 99.72%Pass 100 Mesh 56.0% 99.66%

In Summary:

UMD-AGNR Photo Archive; http://www.photos.umd.edu

In Summary: General Recommendations

• Take soil test on a regular basis.• Always split apply N regardless of source• Balance specific field fertility needs with

the crop and nutrient source• Try to avoid nutrient loss from leaching,

volatilization, etc.• Add legumes to grass stands to supply

some or all of N needs.

In Summary: Stop by and see your Nutrient Management Advisor!!!!!!

In Summary:• 1) Important to get

things in the right place– Alfalfa requires high K

• Poultry Litter, Manure– Grasses require high N

• Sludge, Manure

In Summary:• 2) Take good soil

test. Operate with good information. Do not apply nutrients you do not need.

In Summary:• 3) Explore you Options.

Manure, bio-solids, poultry litter, dehydrated sludge and fertilizer may or may not be a good fit depending upon

your operation.

“Any Questions?”

This man knows what he is smelling about! (Dr. Les Vough Pictured)

University of Maryland ExtensionBen Beale301 475 4481bbeale@umd.edu

Brian Clarkbpclark@umd.edu