Mid Season Fertiliser Requirements

Fertiliser Requirements mid-season.

The capability of grass to grow is compromised if its requirements for major elements such as Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur are not met.

Phosphorus Requirements:

Do you qualify for the new P build up allowance?

To qualify for P build up you must be stocked at greater than 130kgN (c.1.6 cows/ha) , have a farm nutrient management plan completed through the NMP online and have completed a Teagasc training course.

Apply 50-75% of your P requirements in the spring with the remainder in the summer.

P fertiliser recommendations assuming the farmer qualifies for the additional P allowance

P fertiliser recommendations without the additional P allowance

If taking 1 cut of silage add 16 units P per acre, If taking 2 cuts add 28 units of P per acre to grazing requirements.

Potassium Requirements:

Apply maintenance rates during the growing season + build up rates in August/September

If taking 1 cut of silage add 100 units P per acre, If taking 2 cuts add 180 units of P per acre to grazing requirements.

Fertiliser Plan for index 3 P and K grazing ground

• For index 2 P and K ground: use 1.5 bags of 18/6/10 + S in May instead of KaN + S
• For index 1 P and K ground: use 1.5 bags of 18/6/10 + S in May instead of KaN + S + use 1.5 bags of 18/6/12 in June instead of KaN + use 0.5 bags of muriate of potash in September/October
• If you have not spread P and K in the spring you will need to spread this across the main grazing season

Fertiliser Plan for 2^nd cut silage:

Nutrients Required:

Index 1 and 2 assumes that build up was not applied earlier in the year

Fertiliser Plan (index 3 P and K/Silage ground where build up fertiliser was applied for 1^st cut)