TRIGGER
Well-Known Member
I'm new so take it easy lol. Does lime and fertilizer need to be applied before or after breaking the ground?
Food Plots Lime/fertilizer timing?
- Thread starter TRIGGER
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I would think applying first and working it in would be more beneficial than applying after the fact and hoping the rain gets it where it needs to be
Most high school ag teachers, county extension agents, and others say to first use lime to get the soil PH in balance, bearing in mind that it takes many months for pelletized lime to dissolve into the soil. Then once the soil is near neutral PH (around 7.0), spread fertilizer based upon soil tests for each section.
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JCDEERMAN
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Lime needs to be applied first. It's takes a while to get active in the soil (3-6 months) dependent on if it's pelletized or ag lime. Fertilizer can be spread even after everything sprouts, but I like to try and have everything limed and fertilized before planting. "Before or after breaking the ground" would be dependent on how deep you are burying it. If too deep, might not get the same results from just disking from my experience.
JC is spot on. Just remember that you want the lime in the soil where your plants (roots) are growing so don't disk too deep.
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
As others have said....lime first....and with what I'm hearing on fertilizer cost this may be a year where we only lime food plots.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
That's so unfortunate for folks like me. 21 acres in new food plots and this happens. Let's go Brandon
BSK
Well-Known Member
In the same boat. Not as many acres, but still some new ground. I limed some last spring, but the new plots need a lot more.
BSK
Well-Known Member
What I wouldn't give to be able to disk "too deep!"
TRIGGER
Well-Known Member
Hridge
Well-Known Member
1st and most importantly, do a soil sample and get it tested. On my farm, I go in and bush hog/mow a field I want to plant. I try to knock it down tight and mow the piles of cut grass to break them up. I then disc the field and let It sit for 2 weeks. After that, I spray round up on the field to kill a anything that is sprouting (wear mask and protective clothing). 5 days later, I come in and lime and fertilize the field. Amount of lime needed on the field is based on your soil sample results/PH. Amount/type of fertilizer needed is based on soil sample and type of seed your planting. I then cultipack or drag it. Next I seed it with whatever I'm planting (clover,rape,brassica etc..) and then cultipack/drag it lightly one more time to get good seed to soil contact. I will spray it again once it's established if I see grass or weeds with recommended herbicide. Type of Herbicide is purchased for what I'm wanting to kill and making sure it won't hurt what I have planted. A farmers Co-op is a great place to go for seed/lime/fertilizer/soil test/help. I actually find it cheaper to buy in bulk and have the co-op come out in their truck and spread fertilizer and lime on my fields (if I'm doing more than 4 acres). Hope this helps. Not an expert by any means but I have had great success doing it this way. If u do it right on the front end (especially if ur planting a perineal) you will get several years of return out of that planting. I planted clover (crimson/red/ladino mix) 6 years ago and all I do each year is just herbicide, mow, and fertilize them. They look as good today as the day I planted them. Good luck!!
TRIGGER
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I just received my soil samples back yesterday. 3.3 tons of lime per acre. I don't have the paper in front of me to remember the fertilizer. Having them come out and spread the lime is the way to go from what I understand but I don't think I will ever get a big truck in there until it's real dry in the summer. He (co-op) said I can spread 1 ton of pellet lime per acre with their buggy and do the same??
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Lime asap... get ph 6.5 to start with. As long as the ground is level (lime won't wash off), no need to disk. Pelletized lime works faster than ag lime.... but ag lime is way cheaper. Once I get ph to 6.5, I top dress with a little pelletized lime here and there.
Fertilizer should be applied right around time of planting, and preferably right before a rain. Nitrogen will evaporate if put down too early.
With the cost of fertilizer doubling this year, I'm not going to spend the money on fertilizer until AFTER I've planted and am sure I have a good stand this spring. Gives me the option of reseeding versus just having a weak summer crop, saving my $$$ for fall when it really counts.
Fertilizer should be applied right around time of planting, and preferably right before a rain. Nitrogen will evaporate if put down too early.
With the cost of fertilizer doubling this year, I'm not going to spend the money on fertilizer until AFTER I've planted and am sure I have a good stand this spring. Gives me the option of reseeding versus just having a weak summer crop, saving my $$$ for fall when it really counts.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Pelletized lime raises ph quicker with less tonnage... but doesn't last very long
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
I've been in the same boat before on lime ...couple years back I couldn't get the big truck with Ag lime booked....they were covered up with bigger jobs.....so I went with pelletized lime and rented the buggy....I rented the ground driven buggy and pulled it with a 4WD pick-up....if you go this route have a buddy or family member to serve as a ground man.....to help you line up correctly on the plot and to engage/disengage ground drive as you start and stop....save you from getting in and out of truck so much...and reduce waste.....as mentioned, pelletized doesn't last as long...but it's easier to handle and you can spread it yourself.
I noticed a lot of farmers putting out lime Monday and Tuesday.
BSK
Well-Known Member
How much does it cost to rent the buggy?
Deck78
Well-Known Member
BSK
Well-Known Member
How interesting. I'll ask the Humphreys County Co-op, since they're much closer.
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
wildlifefarmer
Well-Known Member
Hridge
Well-Known Member
I have used the buggy and it works great but you have to have the right sized tractor. If you have to go down any steep hills, that thing can push your tractor if it's to small and cause you to flip or get hurt. The co op truck can go in some pretty nasty places. I use the Humphrey county co op and they will go through trees and down tight trails if they can. If you can disk that lime in, it works better. I think I screwed up a step. After I bush hog, I spread my lime and then disk it in. Then I wait 2+ weeks and spray round up. Spraying the round up after you have disked everything is a huge help. It really makes your food plots look great. I'm a fool plot nut. I hate seeing weeds and grass in mine.
Hridge
Well-Known Member
I have always applied it then disked it in. I find on my farm that if we get a heavy rain and there is any slope on your field, that lots of it gets washed away. My soil in Humphrey county is rocky and water rolls off it quickly. I vote to disk it in. Gets to work faster. I lime my fields every year because my soil is so bad. My food plots looks thick and healthy. If you do the work (soil test, herbicide,lime,feet) and plant clover, you can get 5-7 years out of it without replanting. I'm on year 6 with mine and all I do is lime/fertilize them each year and then spray for weeds and grass. I planted a mix of (crimson/red/ladino) clover. The red and crimson will die after year one and you will be left with Ladino. The deer love it!!
BSK
Well-Known Member
Agree with Hridge, lime and fertilizer in ridge-top soils must be disked/turned in. Otherwise it just washes off.
buckaroo
Well-Known Member
I used a landscape rake the other day on a new ridgetop plot worked pretty good
