Now is the time for fall nitrogen on fescue pastures By John Lory

Fall nitrogen on fescue pastures should be applied no later than mid September and is best applied in mid August. Most fall fescue growth is completed by October 15th. Recommended fall nitrogen rate is 50 to 80 pounds nitrogen per acre.

Yield increases from fall nitrogen are less dependable than spring applied nitrogen because adequate rainfall is less dependable in the fall. Yield potential is also less in the fall. But your ability to manage animals to fully utilize fall growth is much greater in fall making fall forage quite valuable. Fescue forage maintains its feed value through most of winter providing ample time to fully utilize fall growth.

Fall nitrogen fertilization is a gamble that significant rainfall will occur in late August and September. If fall rains come too late there will be no yield response. Unfortunately unused fall nitrogen fertilizer from conventional fertilizer materials is often lost during wet periods in late fall and winter.

Poultry litter is an excellent fall pasture fertilizer. One benefit of poultry litter is that it is less likely to be lost over winter in years when early fall rains fail. So fall nitrogen from poultry litter will promote spring growth in years when dry conditions limit fall growth. When calculating poultry litter rates remember that only 60% of nitrogen in poultry litter is available as a fertilizer in the year of application. Two tons of poultry litter typically will provide 60 to 90 pounds of available nitrogen in the year of application, an ideal rate for fall fescue. Poultry litter is also an excellent source of phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and micronutrients.

John Lory, Ag Ext.-Plant Sciences
573-884-7815