Liquid Ferterlizer

[gilbertmsg]

With the price of ferterlizer going thru the roof, would like to know if anyone has used liquid ferterlizer for their fields/lawns, other than large farms which I know spray. I can purchase 2 1/2 gals of 10-10-10 at Tractor Supply. It states on the label that 14oz will cover 1000 square feet or about 1/2 acre. I can purchase on sale for 19.99 per jug. Any comments on using such a product.

Eddie

 

[Mike120]

I've used the version with higher nitrogen in my horse paddocks when I didn't feel like getting a ton of granular. It's convenient and seems to do a decent job. I've never bothered to do a soil test to see what difference it made though. My local Tractor Supply has been out of it and I was afraid they had quit carrying it.

 

[MMagis]

An acre is 43560 square feet, so half of that would be 21780 square feet. 1000 square feet is just a bit over 32' x 32'. I think it may take more than your thinking.

 

[nmu98]

I buy it in concentrated 2 gallon jugs at the local grainery. Not overly expensice and is mixed pretty lightly. This stuff is a foliage fertilizer, so I doubt it does much for the soil. I user it on our trees in the nursury that look distressed, and our pumkins. works great.

 

[HoustonBrama]

Actually, on most fence and products as such, acreage is considered 210' x 210'. So that would be roughly 44,000 SQ FT. Now divide 210' by 2 and you have 105'. Then 105' x 105' = 11,025 SQ FT. That's how they calculated a half acre.

 

[HoustonBrama]

PS. Unless your psot wasn't a typo and it truly says 1000 SQ FT and not 10,000 SQ FT, Magis is right, that's not much

 

[HoustonBrama]

PS. Unless your post wasn't a typo and it truly says 1000 SQ FT and not 10,000 SQ FT, Magis is right, that's not much

 

[BXpanded]

For grass, Nitrogen is usually the major requirement. The first number in the fertilizer composition is the % of nitrogen. The liquid fertilizers usually weigh about 10 lbs per gallon. 10-10-10 would contain 1 lb of nitrogen per gallon. Most places, 1 lb of Nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is recommended. 1/2 acre would be roughly 22,000 square feet so 22 gallons would be needed. 22 gallons @ $8 per gallon = $176.00

Check with a local farm supply or feed supplier. Pasture growers usually buy the liquid in bulk. Around here, 30-0-0 sells for about 20 cents per lb. Since it's 3 times as concentrated only about 7gallons would be needed. This stuff weighs 11 lbs per gallon, 7 gallons @ 11 lbs = 77 lbs @.20 per lb = $15.40

Depending on your grass type and weather, you can see the difference in a week. Be ready to mow! Also, you can add weed killer and take care of the weeds with the same application. Weedkillers like 24D are inexpensive.

Check with your local Ag Extension for recommended application rates in your area.

 

[gilbertmsg]

Thanks for the replys. BXpanded, like your idea of putting down straight nitrogen. I went back and figured again. Here is what I came up with. 2 1/2gallon jug = 320 ounces. 14 oz. treats 1000 square feet. 320 divided by 14 = 22.85. 22.85 x 1000 = about 22857 square feet, which is about 1/2 acre. At 19.99 per jug is it cheaper to spray or buy 50 pound bags of 10-10-10 at 17.00 per bag. Trying to save a few bucks.

Eddie

 

[dixie306]

Just a thought, but here's what I've done to beat the high cost of fertilizer, I have soil samples done, now, instead of trying to match a fertilizer to the soil needs I'm buying straight phosphate, potash and nitrogen and mixing it myself in the spreader, fortunately, I plant 99% clover and use no nitrogen in the fields but I do have a couple of spots I need some on. The larger farm supply stores carry them.

 

[ray66v]

I do not think the liquid is cheaper, since it is only 10 nitrogen, you would have to apply every 2 or 3 weeks, (according to the label), to keep it green. Where as 1 good application of a dry at 28 or 32 nitrogen will last 4-6 weeks. If you really want cheap buy sulfur coated urea, (46 nitrogen), and apply at a very low rate. This will give you about 3 times the yield of lawn fertilizer, and a nice slow release. You can't do it any cheaper than that.

 

[elkun1]

fertilizer is kinda confusing on what your buying. liquid or dry, the analysis is based on 100 pounds of product/acre. bx has hit it pretty well. we figure about 40 units of N per ton of grass/acre. soil test will tell ya what ya need for nutrients. here in mt. sulfur is extremely important. for my yard i like to use 16-20-0-14. It's a dry product that you should be able to get at any fert. store. we get nice green grass without a bunch of top growth. I'm lazy and hate mowing more than once a week. I put on 100 pounds per acre. that gives me 16 units on N, 20 units of phosphate 0 units of potash and 14 units of sulphur. If wet i'll apply the same amount again in early summer. If you only have half an acre, 50 pounds of product will give you the same analysis hope this didn't confuse you to bad. lot of people have been, shall we say taken advantage of by thinking the amount of product put on the ground was the amount of actual fert. they were paying for.
just remember the analysis is based on 100 pounds of the product placed on 1 acre, then do the math for your yard or field. Ron

1 more thing, high nitrogen liquid fert can burn the grass pretty good. use lots of water, won't hurt the grass at all but it will give the neighbors something to talk about untill it greens up. the 10-10-10 should work good.