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How long do I need to keep the horses off the pasture?
Horses should be removed from pastures when nitrogen based fertilizers are being applied and should not be returned to the pastures until adequate rainfall has removed the fertilizer from plant tissues and leached all nitrogen from the soil surface into the ground. Generally, approximately ½ inch of rainfall is sufficient to dissolve granular nitrogen; less is needed when the fertilizer is in liquid form. Under ideal circumstances, it is best to leave the horses off of the pastures for at least 2 - 3 weeks after fertilizing the grasses to allow time for the grass to regrow.
Liquid fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular. The major disadvantage when comparing liquid fertilizers to dry formulations is that they are generally higher in price and usually have a lower analysis. Remember that when making calculations of liquid fertilizer, the analysis is given on a weight percentage, NOT on a volume or "per-gallon" basis. Most fluids weigh between 10 and 12 pounds per gallon. As an example, if you choose a liquid fertilizer with a 10-34-0 analysis that weighs 11.4 pounds per gallon, the gallon will contain only 1.14 pounds of nitrogen (11.4 x .10) and 3.87 pounds of phosphorus (11.4 x .34). Approximately 48 gallons of this liquid fertilizer would be needed per acre to supply the 50 pounds of nitrogen that is recommended for spring applications to pasture grasses. Depending on the productivity of your pastures and your grass species, additional nitrogen applications should be considered in early and late summer. Conducting a soil test will allow you to determine if you need to add lime to maintain proper pH conditions or add any potassium or phosphorus to your pastures.
This answer was provided by Donna Foulk, Senior Agriculture Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension, Equine Science Center. |
