Everything You Need to Know about Hay Fertilizer

So you have a hay pasture and you are considering fertilizer. You’ve come to the right place.

Soil Testing

You want to first understand the quality of your soil and where you are lacking minerals. You can do a soil test pretty easily by collecting some soil and bringing it to your local ag extension office and they will test the soil for you. This process ensures that you don’t over fertilize your hay crop and damage the soil and the crop in the process. It is likely that you soil is lacking in Nitrogen, which is the main reason for fertilizer.

How much Fertilizer?

Depending on the condition of your soil, this will determine how much you want to fertilize. If your soil is lacking in a lot of nutrients, you will need to fertilize more. If your soil is healthy, you will need to fertilize less.

Types of Fertilizer

There are two main different types of hay fertilizer: granular and liquid. Granular are pellet like form and are great for absorption over longer periods of time. If you are looking for a fertilizer that provides a steady amount of nutrients to the plants and the soil. In contrast, liquid fertilizer is highly soluble and is rapid absorbing. This is great if you are looking to maximize growth during the spring growing season, but this rapid absorption means the fertilizer will be used up very quickly. A disadvantage of liquid fertilizer is if you apply is and it rains the next day, or if you have it under pivot, the fertilizer could wash away and not be evenly absorbed the way it was intended. So choosing between the two depends on your climate, your agriculture, and your preference. Both are great options.

Best time to Fertilize

The best time to fertilize is during the spring. This is because this is when your crop will have the most moisture and will be most successful when given the extra nutrients. You want to give your crop the nutrients it needs during the time that it needs it the most. Application during the spring will be the best time to fertilize and will yield the best results.