Nitrogen Uptake

TUBBY

Hi folks

Spread CAN @ 1 bag/acre about 3-4 weeks ago just before the real cold spell (round the time we were supposed to be getting a pick up in temps).

The fertilizer was dissolved in before the very hard night frosts came.

No growth since as soil temp was approx 4C at best.

My question is how much of that N will be available now when the warmer weather comes or has a lot of it been lost.

I know as a rule you lose 2 units per day but I am just wondering do i need to go over that ground again now in yer opinion or would most of it be still available to drive growth.

Farmer Pudsey

As we had no rain most should be still available. It should be in the roots of the plants. If you have grazed this land some will be lost as the grass may have been high in nitrogen.

Having said that I would watch the weather, in my area there is supposed to be light rain next Sunday morning, I did the same about 4 weeks ago I used urea and we got some light rain however I have been grazing some of the ground since the 8th of March. I intend hitting the whole farm with urea if forecast dose not change about 25-30 units to get a good flush of grass.

Over the last 4 weeks grass would at best use 2-3 units a week on average. Old paddocks would use less. So some of nitrogen should be there but as temperatures rise grass will climb fast to 1.5-2 units/day.