NEWARK, Del. - Now’s the
time to upgrade fertility on alfalfa
and pastures, says University of
Delaware extension agent Dean
Belt. “Some of you may have
missed doing this last fall,” he
says. “Hopefully a soil test is
available to indicate exact needs.
If not, get this done as soon as the
ground thaws enough to take
samples. Soil tests are the only
way to know where you stand on
pH, potassium and phosphorus.”
Belt offers some suggestions to
help growers upgrade both crops.
ALFALFA The age and
condition of the stand will deter
mine how much lime and fertilizer
it needs. Generally, says the agent,
a fall application of P and K is
most desirable, as this helps
strengthen the stand and increases
winter hardiness.
But if the application is missed,
by all means apply what’s needed
this spring. “Lime should go on
any time the ground in the field is
firm,” he says. “P and K can go on
before or after the first cutting
again, when the ground is firm. We
strongly urge you to apply lime
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Pastures & alfalfa need attention now
and fertilizer as determined by a
soil test.”
Alfalfa needs a pH maintained in
the area of 6.5. A 6-ton yield
removes about 75 pounds of
phosphorus, 360 pounds of potash,
plus a quantity of boron. Belt says
the P, K and B can go on either in
the spring, the fall, or in split
applications, half after the first
cutting and half after the last
cutting.
“The split application is
probably the most efficient use of
the nutrients, but has not proved to
be the most economical. So push
the pencil to figure out your cost,”
he advises. If you apply all the
fertilizer at one time, a fall ap
plication is preferable. The soil
won’t be seriously compacted then,
and the plants will be more winter
hardy.
If weeds have been a problem
and you didn’t treat for them last
fall, there’s still time. But don’t
wait for the white tint of
shepherd’s-purse or the bright
yellow of mustards and rockets to
do so, Belt says. “You must apply
herbicides at the proper time and
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for the specific weeds present, so
it’s important to know just what’s
out there. Not all weeds are con
trolled by the same herbicide.
Your county agent and farm
supply representative can help you
with identification and chemical
selection. If you have a mixed
alfalfa/timothy stand, the choice is
more limited.”
PASTURE CARE Lime and
fertilizer needs should be deter
mined by a soil test. As with
alfalfa, phosphorus and potash are
most valuable applied in the fall,
but there’s still time for a spring
application if needed. Nitrogen is
the most important nutrient for
getting grasses going in the spring,
Belt says. The amount needed will
depend on the type of pasture and
the percent of legumes present.
Four tons of grass dry matter
contain 150 to 200 pounds of N, so
for a 4-ton yield consider applying
75 pounds in late spring and
another 75 to 100 pounds after
upgrazed seed heads are clipped in
late May. If the pasture contains 50
percent clover or more, no
nitrogen is needed.
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 11,1984—D5
Spring is the perfect time to
reseed a weak pasture, Belt says,
but do it early. Late February and
early March is the time to in
terseed alfalfa and clovers. Many
farmers broadcast clover seed
over a pasture then, and let the
freezing-thawing action of the soil
work the seed in.
Grass seed can also be broadcast
in March, but it’s best to do this
with a no-till drill. If one isn’t
available, a regular drill will do a
fair job, followed by a cultipacker
or roller to get the necessary seed
soil contact for proper ger
mination. In some situations Belt
says it may be desirable to lightly
disk or drag the field before
seeding to loosen the surface and
improve chances for soil-seed
contact. The seed must come into
firm contact with the soil for the
planting to succeed.
“It you really want to get the
most from your pasture, weed
control should be one of your
management practices,” the agent
says. “This should go hand in hand
with a rotational grazing. A thick,
well fertilized pasture will have
fewer weeds than a thin,
overgrazed one.”
Droppings still need to be
spread, however, and the pasture
should be clipped often enough to
keep weeds from developing seeds.
If herbicides are necessary,
several are available, depending
on the weeds present, the crop
rotation being used, and the kind of
livestock being grazed. Again,
consult with your county extension
agent or farm dealer. Before using
any herbicide in any situation
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