Improving Grass Nutrition
To cost-effectively improve grass yields, calculate the nutrients needed, and then tailor fertiliser applications to meet this requirement.
To cost-effectively improve grass yields, calculate the nutrients needed, and then tailor fertiliser applications to meet this requirement.
Soil Nutrient Requirements
Soil testing is an essential and inexpensive way to assess nutrient levels. Fields should be tested every 3-5 years to ensure fertility and pH are maintained. Testing one quarter of the farm every year is an easy way to do this; it can be helpful to test more often if there is a known problem in a field, For successful establishment, grass and clover need a pH of 6.0–6.5. Grass needs P and K indices of 2 and 2-, and clover needs P and K values of at least 2.
Soil testing is an essential and inexpensive way to assess nutrient levels. Fields should be tested every 3-5 years to ensure fertility and pH are maintained. Testing one quarter of the farm every year is an easy way to do this; it can be helpful to test more often if there is a known problem in a field, For successful establishment, grass and clover need a pH of 6.0–6.5. Grass needs P and K indices of 2 and 2-, and clover needs P and K values of at least 2.
Calculate nutrients added in slurry and FYM Slurry provides varying amounts of N, P and K. Nutrient levels can be determined by home-test kits, book values or by laboratory analysis which also provides the readily available portion of the N. This information allows you to calculate the nutrient contribution from the slurry and FYM.
Combine soil test results with a manure management plan to identify the best fields to spread manure and maintain indices. Tailoring fertiliser applications Having deducted the nutrients available in the manures from the total requirement, select an appropriate fertiliser to supply the remaining necessary nutrients.
Soil test fields every 3-5 years Account for nutrients spread in slurry and FYM Select a fertiliser to supply the necessary nutrients Improving grass nutrition Better grass yields can often be obtained from improving existing swards, this also enables continued use without taking a field out of production.
Combine soil test results with a manure management plan to identify the best fields to spread manure and maintain indices. Tailoring fertiliser applications Having deducted the nutrients available in the manures from the total requirement, select an appropriate fertiliser to supply the remaining necessary nutrients.
Soil test fields every 3-5 years Account for nutrients spread in slurry and FYM Select a fertiliser to supply the necessary nutrients Improving grass nutrition Better grass yields can often be obtained from improving existing swards, this also enables continued use without taking a field out of production.
Please contact Tim on 07803618754 to book in soil sampling at your farm