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GRAZING DAYS

GRAZING DAYS. Pasture Management July 23, 2009. Why a Soil Test. We can’t mange what we can’t measure. With an accurate soil test, a strategy can be made to solve even the most difficult of problems Encourages plant growth by providing the best lime / fertilizer recommendations

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GRAZING DAYS

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  1. GRAZING DAYS Pasture Management July 23, 2009

  2. Why a Soil Test We can’t mange what we can’t measure. With an accurate soil test, a strategy can be made to solve even the most difficult of problems • Encourages plant growth by providing the best lime / fertilizer recommendations • Promotes environmental quality • Saves money

  3. What is a Soil Test A soil test is a process by which elements (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, manganese, copper and zinc) are chemically removed from the soil and measured for their "plant available" content within the sample. The quantity of available nutrients in the sample determines the amount of fertilizer that is recommended. A soil test also measures soil pH. These analyses indicate whether lime is needed and, if so, how much to apply.

  4. A routine soil test consists of: • pH and lime requirement • Calcium • Magnesium • Phosphorus • Potassium  Can add organic matter if desired.

  5. The soil testing puzzle is made up of three parts.

  6. Taking the sample

  7. UF-ESTL Available Tests Test A ($3.00) Test B ($7.00) Test A + P, K, Mg • pH • Lime requirement Photo Credit: Amy Shober, UF-IFAS

  8. Lab procedures Dry Screen Scoop Extract Measure

  9. Soil Test Interpretation

  10. Soil Test Results 100 80 $ 60 Relative Yield (%) 40 20 L M Optimum High 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Soil Test Phosphorus (Lbs/Acre) Amy Shober, UF-IFAS

  11. 18 essential plant nutrients: From air/water Carbon = C Hydrogen = H Oxygen = O From soil and fertilizer Macro-Nutrients Nitrogen = N Phosphorus = P Potassium =K Calcium =Ca Magnesium = Mg Sulfur = S Micro-Nutrients Manganese =Mn Zinc = Zn Copper = Cu Iron = Fe Boron = B Molybdenum = Mo Chlorine = Cl Nickel = Ni Cobalt = Co

  12. Relative quantities of soil-supplied nutrients in dry plant tissue. Potassium Nitrogen Phosphorus Calcium Magnesium Sulfur All micronutrients combined

  13. Quickness of nutrient availability • Soil minerals • Organic matter • Fertilizer Very slow Very fast Availability to plants

  14. Soil nutrient deficiency:Add fertilizer, get a response

  15. FERTILIZER UPDATE

  16. The future of N fertilizers • N fertilizer comes from air, hydrogen (from natural gas), heat, and pressure. • It is more economical to produce N off-shore where natural gas is cheap. • The USA is now a net importer of N. • Our future N supply may be dominated by urea produced overseas.

  17. The future of P fertilizers • Single superphosphate and triple superphosphate are no longer produced in Tampa. • Production is now limited to mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). • Florida still has mineable P ore, but the mines are moving to the south.

  18. The future of K fertilizers • Saskatchewan province in Canada has several hundred years worth of mineable K salts. • Price will be driven by worldwide demand, particularly from China and India.

  19. Economics of Hay ProductionElena Toro, Suwannee Co. and Dan Fenneman, Madison Co. Extension Agents

  20. Economics of Hay ProductionElena Toro, Suwannee Co. and Dan Fenneman, Madison Co. Extension Agents

  21. WEED CONTROL UPDATE

  22. Late Summer Winter Spring Fall

  23. Weed Control What are the options? • Spray • Fertilize • Spray and fertilize • Mow • Do nothing

  24. Bermudagrass, Ragweed and Nitrogen Lbs/bermuda/ac N = 34 lbs/ac John Boyd, U of Arkansas

  25. 34 lb N will cost $20 - $40/AHerbicide will cost $8 - $25/A Lbs/bermuda/ac N = 34 lbs/ac John Boyd, U of Arkansas

  26. Herbicides, Mowingand Bermudagrass Yield Lbs /ac Heavily infested with wooly croton and ragweed Baumann Texas A&M

  27. PASTURE WEEDS

  28. Blackberry (bush-type)

  29. Blackberry Control • Remedy - 1 qt/A • Pasturegard - 2 qt/A • Cimarron - 0.5 oz/A ( injury to Bahia) • Telar - 1.0 oz/A • Do not mow within 1 yr of treatment • Blackberry is most sensitive when blooming

  30. Dogfennel Control • Weedmaster – application rate is highly dependant on DF size. • up to 12 inches – 2 pt • 12 to 24 inches – 3 pt • >24 inches – not recommend WM • Often inconsistent control.

  31. Dogfennel control • Pasturegard – 2 pt will relatively good control on DF up to 24-30”. • 3 pt never misses, even on big stuff. • Price keeps PG from being used more often

  32. Cleanwave • Active ingredient: fluroxypyr • Volatility: moderate • Use rate: 14 oz/A (for now) • Price: ~ $0.50 per ounce.

  33. Control of 3’ tall dogfennel

  34. Cleanwave + 3pt 2,4-D

  35. Weedmaster 2 pt

  36. Weedmaster 3pt

  37. August dogfennel treatment – Useless, right??? Brent Sellers, Univ. of Florida

  38. 5 months later – this field will exploded with grass in spring Brent Sellers, Univ. of Florida

  39. 5 months later – this field will exploded with grass in spring Treatment with Pasturegard 3 pt/A ($23/A) more than doubled grass production. Is it worth it to you? Brent Sellers, Univ. of Florida

  40. Prickly Pear

  41. Prickly Pear Control • Do not mow! These reproduce veg. and the mowed pads can root and colonize. • Herbicides • Remedy + basal/diesel fuel – spray one at a time. • Pasturegard is same as Remedy • 2,4-D is not effective • What about Cleanwave?

  42. Before

  43. After

  44. Recommendation • Cleanwave at 50 oz/A. • We applied in the fall (October). • Spring applications????

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