Popcorn and Mega, I take it you only fertilize after planting because you are drilling in seed? I till and broadcast and I can't imagine spreading fertilizer after germination, where it will just sit on top the soil or get washed away by rain. I always lime/fertilize before tilling to incorporate the lime-fertilizer into the soil before seeding.
It will soak into the ground just fine even if spread a month after planting unless you get 2 or 3 inches of rain at once.
No need to fertilize at time of planting as a cost savings measure in case of poor germination (a million reasons for that). Just too costly with fertilizer prices as high as they are.
I planted 6 acres a couple weeks ago, got rain (.33 in) once just after, none since until right now. Surprisingly, it germinated great and the wheat and brassicas are 2in tall. Will fertilize in a couple more weeks once I know it has roots to survive the dry conditions.
Pulled the trigger yesterday on 4 more plots and drilled them. Getting some rain on them now as well!
Still holding off on my largest 8ac plot until there is more consistent rain forecast
This^^^
Mega nailed it and I do broadcast some small woodland plots I cannot get my drill into. Either way I Hold back on the fertilizer, I do not want to encourage a weed problem that I may out compete next spring.
I would be concerned about the immobile macro and micronutrients not getting down into the soil if I just spread fertilizer on the surface. Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper and Zinc are immobile in the soil, meaning rainwater will not leach them downwards from the surface. Same is true of Nitrogen IF applied as ammonium (it IS mobile if applied as nitrate). A fair amount of surface applied Nitrogen can also be lost to volatilization.
Clover especially but wheat to a degree are shallow rooted, they will find the macro nutrients and reach out to get them. There is also a product (name escapes me)(urease inhibitor, N-Fixx XLR is one product) that retards volatilization and leaching, I made certain my suppliers use it. Kinda like slow release nitrogen. This will buy you about 2 additional weeks.
Brassicas on the other hand will go deep for their needs and are patient, they will jump when they find what you have to give later.
I am holding back till October to re-establish some older clover plots when I will disk lightly, top spread lime, clover and wheat. Its pretty good soil so there I will hold fertilizer till the clover is proven. The wheat will grow on a rock as long as there is water.
