The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-30
PASTURES NEED
FERTILIZATION


that never before as a result OF
their increasing realization that
nast,1res are our cheapest and
most nutritious source OF feed
for livestock. And the shortage
of labor on farms has further
emphasized this saving of labor
by allowing animals to harvest
their own foliage.
Fertilization is certainly one OF
the most important factors in both
establishing and maintaining pas
lures on North Carolina soils, says
W. W. Woodhouse, Jr., associate
in soil fertility with the Agrlcul-
tural Experiment Station at State
College.
In the first place, he says, most
of our pastures are on the poorer
soils Of the farm. They are usu-
ally soils that are naturally poor
or that have been worn out by
cropping and erosion.
AS result, their supply Of nu-
trients must be built up before
productive and nutritious pas
lures can. be produced on them.
For an adequate supply of plant
food is just as essential for the
growth of pasture plants as it is
for cotton or tobacco.
Experiments throughout t n e
state have shown that increases
in yield of from so to 300 per
cent may be expected from the
fertilization of permanent pasture.
Frequently, the Improvement in
quality brought about by fertili-
cation may be more important
even than the increase in yield,
Woodhouse says.
For example, on one field an
appliction of lime and phosphate
increased the yield of dry mate
rial 70 per cent. And at the same
time, the proportion of weeds was
reduced by one-half, White Clover
was increased to five times that
on the untreated pasture, and
there were noticeable increases in
protein, calcium and phosphorus
This higher quality forage could
not be obtained on these soils
without fertilization.
Lime, phosphate and potash are
necessary for pasture establish
ment in this state and the far
mer should always be sure thai
they are present in adequate
amounts before seeding his pas
ture plants.
Lime is especially important in
establishing and maintaining good
soda, Woodnouse says. And he
points out that almost all soils
in this state that have not been
lined in recent years will require
an application.
Lime requirements of the diff.
, ferent soils vary, but in most
cases one ton of finely ground
, limestone per acre, evenly dis
tributed, will be sufficient fol
good growth. This one application
will last for several years ane
re-applications should not be made
more frequently than every five
to ten years unless plant symp
toms or soil tests indicate the
need for them.
Phosphate and potash are need
ed on all soils that nave not re
ceived recent heavy application
Both are particularly importan'
for the establishment of seedlings
And for this reason, it is usually
safest to supply both when making
new seedlings.
An application Of 400 to 6O(
pounds of OLAF per acre will
supply the right amount for mos
soils or the same amount of phos'
phorus and potash may be obtain
ed for superpnosphates and mu'
riate of potash.
After a pasture is established
the problem becomes one of man
aging and fertilizing to maintain
it. No farmer would consider
omitting fertilizer from his tobac'
: co because the land was ferti
lied the year before. And while
pasture plants do not require tne
heavy fertilization that tobacco
usually receives, they must be
refertilized at regular intervals
to maintain healthy stands ane
!. growth.
I Considerable amounts OF plan
I foods are removed from the farm
+, in animal products and addition
al amounts are lost through leach
: ing and through loss of manure
Pastures cannot be expected II
: remain productive unless thes'
plant foods are replaced.
: In fertiizing to maintain pas
lures. both the soil and manage
ment should be considered. o.
soils that are not deficient in pot
ash and that are not too lnten
sively grazed, 200 to 800 pound
4 of superphosphate per acre SHOULD
5 be applied at two-year intervals.
O On potash deficient soils or o.
pastures that are grazed inten
e sively, removing large amount
5 of forage, 300 to 400 pounds Q
:. o-14-7 or O-12-12 should be substl
;. tuted for the superphosphate. 10y
lying or irnperfectly drained soil
o and dairy pastures where mucl
r of the manure is dropped outsld
d the pasture seem to be more like
G ~ to develop potash deficiency.