What's the best way to spread fertilizer?

[Robert_in_NY]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

Ok then, I have a freind who has 80 acres in Randolph. I head out to Little Valley every year for the Trappers convention and from time to time I go to the fair up there. I always love driving thru that area.

 

[63DH8]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

I don't have a broadcast spreader yet. However, I inherted a spotsprayer that I added booms to. Short of blowing up gophers with the 64-0-0, what the heck am I going to do with two bags? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Looks like I'm going to have to get a spreader. I was going to sooner or later. I may as well pick one up when I pick up the rototiller.

The area that I need to get green and growing is fairly small; About half an acre (It's my front yard). Is a spreader good enough to spread lime on this small of area, or do you still recommend getting the pros to spread the lime? Mucho thanks in advance!

 

[63DH8]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

Killer! Mucho thanks rswran! That's the info I need for my yard. Many thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif This site needs a thumbs up smilie.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

Well, you can mix the 64-0-0 with something else that doesn't have a lot of nitrogen. Or you can plant some corn and see how it goes.

Just remember, just because it is so strong doesn't mean you have to apply it heavy. If you apply it light then it will work without burning up everything. Just try to apply it just before a rain so that it gets disolved into the ground.

 

[63DH8]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just try to apply it just before a rain so that it gets disolved into the ground. )</font>

This is the reason I asked if it could be disolved in water first, then sprayed. If it could, the water would take it in the ground .

 

[rswyan]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This is the reason I asked if it could be disolved in water first, then sprayed. If it could, the water would take it in the ground . )</font>
Plus you would cut the strength to something lower than 64-0-0 ..... for instance, if you combined 50 lbs. of 64-0-0 with 50 lbs of water (about 6 gallons) you now have a 32-0-0 solution by weight.

Without knowing exactly what you've got, fertilizer-wise I couldn't say whether it's water-soluable or to what degree ..... I used urea (46-0-0) dissolved in water to side dress our sweet corn crop this past year .... it worked great. The urea comes in prills (small round balls, slightly larger than a BB) and it will dissolve readily in hot water. I took a 5 gallon bucket and would partially fill it with hot water and would then add the urea in ....... would take about 5 minutes to "melt" and dissolve.

 

[cp1969]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

Mix it with 100 lbs of 8-32-16 or similar to get 200 lbs of 36-16-8.

Then apply so that you get no more than 2 lbs (preferably 1) of nitrogen down per 1000 sq ft. Split the batch in two and apply half going north & south; the other half going east & west.

There are a number of universities that have good reading material on fertilization. Probably one close you your area would be best. If you can't find one, look up Kansas State University's .
publications.

 

[cp1969]

Re: What\'s the best way to spread fertilizer?

On the lime question: If you're lucky, you can find someone to spread ag lime for you.

If you're lucky.

If not, like me, you'll have to do it yourself and there is no good way to do it cheaply. Ag lime costs about $3 a ton at the quarry, but a regular spreader won't spread it. Pelletized lime, which will run through a spreader, costs about $120 per ton. Here is a pdf file about liming.

Have you had your soil tested? How do you know it needs lime?