Is it too early to spread 10-10-20

johnnyw20 · 12-02-2017 06:36PM #1

I'm a bit of a newbie to spreading fertiliser. I've 25 acres to put a bag and half of 10-10-20 out in. With the weather warming up this week would it be a good time to spread it or is it too early in the year still?

Who2 · 12-02-2017 08:51PM

johnnyw20 wrote: »

I'm a bit of a newbie to spreading fertiliser. I've 25 acres to put a bag and half of 10-10-20 out in. With the weather warming up this week would it be a good time to spread it or is it too early in the year still?

Leave it in the bag for another while, could you throw out a light coat of urea to get things moving?

Username John · 12-02-2017 08:53PM

Who2 wrote: »

Leave it in the bag for another while, could you throw out a light coat of urea to get things moving?

Why would you recommend putting out urea and not 10-10-20?

Just wondering...

Who2 · 12-02-2017 08:59PM

Username John wrote: »

Why would you recommend putting out urea and not 10-10-20?

Just wondering...

I just always held compounds till things were moving right. Urea will work away sooner and better bang for your buck.

Username John · 12-02-2017 09:06PM

Who2 wrote: »

I just always held compounds till things were moving right. Urea will work away sooner and better bang for your buck.

I put out 18-6-12 two weeks ago...

I didn't think people only put out urea early?

johnnyw20 · 12-02-2017 09:06PM

Who2 wrote: »

Leave it in the bag for another while, could you throw out a light coat of urea to get things moving?

Already have half a bag of urea out 4 weeks ago but soil tests have come back since saying I'm low on p and k. There has been good response to the urea so far but I'd like to get the compound out soon too. I'd be grazing it in about 4-6 weeks time so might leave it till after it's grazed

charolais0153 · 12-02-2017 09:20PM

Teagasc advise to use straight nitrogen until March when you can then apply your compound fertiliser

rangler1 · 12-02-2017 09:39PM

charolais0153 wrote: »

Teagasc advise to use straight nitrogen until March when you can then apply your compound fertiliser

Is your soil fertility good or is that teagasc advice for your farm
I'd imagine that if your P or K is low, you'd get a better response with a compound....

charolais0153 · 12-02-2017 10:27PM

rangler1 wrote: »

Is your soil fertility good or is that teagasc advice for your farm
I'd imagine that if your P or K is low, you'd get a better response with a compound....

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2017/february-brings-on-the-calving-season-to-suckler-farms.php
First paragraph. You had me fairly looking through my history;D

cute geoge · 12-02-2017 10:31PM

Can anyone tell me what soil temperature is at ,it needs to be over 6 degrees for any growth

Username John · 12-02-2017 11:21PM

charolais0153 wrote: »

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2017/february-brings-on-the-calving-season-to-suckler-farms.php
First paragraph. You had me fairly looking through my history;D

Interesting...

Although do I remember before, that the advice was to put out the '0's as early as possible (0-10-20, 0-7-30) ?

I think that's what was done at home years ago anyways...

Or maybe that's what was done, but not necessarily what was recommended - which could have happened too

Username John · 12-02-2017 11:23PM

Who2 wrote: »

I just always held compounds till things were moving right. Urea will work away sooner and better bang for your buck.

It's all a bit chicken and egg then too - urea is a better bang for your buck as you say, if your p and k are in order and can take up the N

(I think)

Green farmer · 12-02-2017 11:35PM

cute geoge wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what soil temperature is at ,it needs to be over 6 degrees for any growth

Have a root around the Met eireann website. They have it up for a load of different locations around the country.

Username John · 12-02-2017 11:37PM

Green farmer wrote: »

Have a root around the Met eireann website. They have it up for a load of different locations around the country.

http://www.met.ie/latest/agricultural.asp

rangler1 · 12-02-2017 11:43PM

It was 6 degerees here a week ago, it's now 4 degrees, could be under 6 for the next 8 weeks like some years, where's the nitrogen then

Farrell · 12-02-2017 11:46PM

Very interesting thread
What I'm taking is get 2500gal/ac slurry out by end of Feb at latest for grazing 1 month later, put 1/2 bag urea/ac on rest for grazing inside the next month
Have I taken this up right

I said · 13-02-2017 12:03AM

rangler1 wrote: »

It was 6 degerees here a week ago, it's now 4 degrees, could be under 6 for the next 8 weeks like some years, where's the nitrogen then

Got nutrient plan from teagasc during the week get slurry out on parts of the farm that have never seen it asap.And go with urea and 18-6-12.All to do with early spring grazing according to them that's alright in free draining soils and in the sunny southeast fcuk all good to me except for this year.
Tis easy come up with a plan looking at a map different story on the ground as they say.
Great in theory throwing out fert around here this time of the year when all I'd be doing is more harm than good.Will wait till mid march as most years.

farawaygrass · 13-02-2017 12:05AM

Op I put out 10-10-20 4 and a half weeks ago and was scratching my head since wondering the same as you. A few people I talked to said I went too early. But all I can say is that it seems to be working nicely. And this is my own thinking-but if you p and ks aren't up to scratch and you put our urea, them surely you are not getting the full benifit if that urea? When you are at the optimum level of p and k then I would be thinking urea now and maybe a compound later on in the year for maintenance. The only thing I'd say is put out enough 10-10-20 that you are still putting out enough n. I was aiming for 2 bags to the acre but had the shaker set a bit tight and only went about 1.7 bag to acre. Might be leaving myself a bit short.

Bass Reeves · 13-02-2017 12:07AM

rangler1 wrote: »

It was 6 degerees here a week ago, it's now 4 degrees, could be under 6 for the next 8 weeks like some years, where's the nitrogen then

Hopefully in the roots of the grass. There is a 10 day gap between the application of N especially urea based N and it availability for growth. There a number of factors in our favour. Land is quite dry considering that we are at mid February. It is unlikely that temperatures will remain below 6 for that long. Dry ground heats up fast.

Biggest issue is whether we get a lot of rainfall over next 6-10 weeks. If it dry it will be frosty but nights are getting shorter so sunshine could counter that . Biggest factor is whether weather comes from SW orE/N. Overcast dry weather should mean ground temperatures above 6C

charolais0153 · 13-02-2017 12:14AM

It might not be practical for some people but the 135 here spreads all the manure. Leaves barely a trace if you don't go flying around corners ,our john Deere won't see the ground for a while until ground hardens up sbit albeit its not too soft now. Only disadvantage is the no doors or soft seat etc

jimmy G M · 13-02-2017 12:18AM

My understanding is that the P & K you spread largely stays in the ground (barring a run off of fert due to heavy rain or leaching) and is available for uptake by the grass plant over the course of the season.

The nitrogen in Urea is a slightly different form than in CAN and regular compounds. It is slower to release and more stable than the other forms and more suitable for spreading in early spring.

You will get a faster reaction from the nitrogen in CAN & compounds than urea provided the conditions are right for grass growth, however in early spring Urea is a more stable and persistent form of nitrogen than CAN and compounds.

I expect Jennifer Anniston or some other Whizz will come in soon and explain the science bit much better than me...:rolleyes:

Green farmer · 13-02-2017 12:19AM

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Biggest issue is whether we get a lot of rainfall over next 6-10 weeks. If it dry it will be frosty but nights are getting shorter so sunshine could counter that . Biggest factor is whether weather comes from SW orE/N. Overcast dry weather should mean ground temperatures above 6C

So even though SW is milder , will have more rain, better with cold EN as drier ?

Bass Reeves · 13-02-2017 12:28AM

Green farmer wrote: »

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Biggest issue is whether we get a lot of rainfall over next 6-10 weeks. If it dry it will be frosty but nights are getting shorter so sunshine could counter that . Biggest factor is whether weather comes from SW orE/N. Overcast dry weather should mean ground temperatures above 6C

So even though SW is milder , will have more rain, better with cold EN as drier ?

No it is all about balance E/N would be very cold and maybe no growth. Remember was it spring 2014.

Green farmer · 13-02-2017 12:33AM

Bass Reeves wrote: »

No it is all about balance E/N would be very cold and maybe no growth. Remember was it spring 2014.

Last year wasn't great either. Was end of May here before grass started really moving. Forecast to get milder from Tuesday onwards

kay 9 · 13-02-2017 12:41AM

Put out urea a week or two ago where the sheep will be in for lambing, it's working well on most parts but few fields that have less shelter are stunted the last few days.
I'd wait if I was you, Fertiliser is too dear to be fookin out and not doing what it should due to temps and weather variations.
I'd prefer to spread heavier when weather suits better.

farawaygrass · 13-02-2017 08:32AM

charolais0153 wrote: »

It might not be practical for some people but the 135 here spreads all the manure. Leaves barely a trace if you don't go flying around corners ,our john Deere won't see the ground for a while until ground hardens up sbit albeit its not too soft now. Only disadvantage is the no doors or soft seat etc

Is she able for the half tonne ok?

Username John · 13-02-2017 08:35AM

farawaygrass wrote: »

Is she able for the half tonne ok?

We have similar - 135 but a smaller (6 bag) vicon spreader...

Max that I can put in is 3 bags, anything more than that it starts to spill out over the side driving across the hill...

We don't have much ground - which is just as well says you, at that rate you'd be back to the yard every minute

White Clover · 13-02-2017 08:38AM

Username John wrote: »

We have similar - 135 but a smaller (6 bag) vicon spreader...

Max that I can put in is 3 bags, anything more than that it starts to spill out over the side driving across the hill...

We don't have much ground - which is just as well says you, at that rate you'd be back to the yard every minute

You should get a bigger tractor John and a bigger spreader too!!!

charolais0153 · 13-02-2017 08:52AM

farawaygrass wrote: »

Is she able for the half tonne ok?

We use small bags. You'd empty 8 bahs into it and out 2 bags on top if u wanted at home on flat land but on the hilly land we wouldn't out in more than 6

larthehar · 13-02-2017 09:25AM

I.ve always gone by this!
http://www.fertilizer-assoc.ie/faqs/

Really depends on soil type and application rates imo, i went with p and k a month ago. I had lime out so can't go with urea, can out yesterday. I am in the sunny southeast so i know fellas in the west can't look into fields!

Username John · 13-02-2017 10:20AM

White Clover wrote: »

You should get a bigger tractor John and a bigger spreader too!!!

Ah - sure I pose I should buy a bigger farm too while I'm at it...

I'm happy enough with my little farm, and my little tractor and my little spreader....

Don't I lose money quick enough with them

Is it too early to spread 10-10-20

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