Fertilizer Question on #'s per ac of 17-17-17

I'm putting out 17-17-17 fert on my food plots; I'm planting cereal grains. How many #'s per acre of 17-17-17 should I put out? (I know... get a soil sample but I don't have one so let's just go with the question)

I'm thinking 200 lbs per ac but I'm open to your suggestions. Is 200 lbs per ac enough? We're coming back in Dec with Ammonium Nitrate.

Thanks guys for your suggestions!!

Yes

Some of my fields' soil test call for 100 lbs of N per acre, so for my fields that would be a huge amount of triple 17. For practical purposes, there's no way I'd waste money on more than 200lbs/acre for a food plot without a soil test.

So my answer is yes that's what I'd do too.

So you already know that the correct answer is to get a soil sample, but you want another answer anyway. Do you intend to pick from the wild ass guesses that people may give here and decide which one you like best? I don't understand this logic, but I will humor you and leave a crazy guess. Cereal grains require more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium, remember it's more closely related to members of the grass family which require lots of nitrogen. For example, the results of our last soil samples recommended 80-40-40 per acre for winter food plots. Spreading 17-17-17 won't get you there. If you spread enough triple 17 to fulfill the nitrogen requirement, then you're way heavy on the P and K.

If I were spreading 17-17-17, then I would throw in a bag of two of 34-0-0 for good measure.

80-40-40/acre?? That seems like a lot. If you where just working on the N, it would take 5 bags(or close to it) of 34-0-0 per acre. What kind of soil?

I don't think it's as high as you think it is. That was pretty much the average across 30+ food plots. There are a few plots that were likely neglected due to difficult access. These few plots called for something like 100-60-60 or close to it.
The majority of these plots are mostly red clay, but again, this was pretty much the average.

Maybe not. I've got 2 right here but they are for corn so different animal.

#1) ph-6.7 120-40-0/acre Sand
#2) ph-5.6 120-50-0/acre Red Clay that hasn't been touched in 30 years.

We know how corn loves that N though.

Yep, you're right. I think listing "food plot" on your soil sample calls for high levels of all three nutrients because grains need the N but legumes like winter peas and clover need the P & K. If you were planting a plot that only contained one type of seed, your fertilizer recs may not call for high levels of all 3.

Yelp softly, I am not going to make up stuff and I knew many ppl would mention a soil sample and needing to do one, which I am in total agreement. I know I need a soil samp.

But here's the deal... we have approx. 70 acres of food plots. I took soil samples of about half the food plots and yes, I need lime! Some food plots more than others but they're not bad, bad.

But when you have over 35 food plots, there is no way in hell that I can attend to EACH food plot for its specific needs. At least I don't have the time to "doctor" each food plot. I have to do the best I can do for all of them and lime is in the budget for next spring.

My question was really to settle an argument between myself and another member. I think... with the information I have, that Triple 17 @ 200 lbs per acre would be sufficient. My other member wants 300 lbs per acre but we don't have a surplus of $. Besides, we are going to dump A'Nitrate on our plots in December. So, I think 200 lbs per acre is fine. We are mainly cereal grain in our plots.

I know there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here so, hence, my question. Yes, I know there are A LOT of variables and maybe so many variables that there isn't a correct answer.

But thanks for the feedback.

70 acres is a good bit of plots there buddy. If your plots are accessible, I would check into chicken poop. I do know a guy. It might be cheaper. Lime stays in the ground for a while so you want have a big expense every year on that and fertilizer will change levels as well depending on what you plant and lose through soil leaching. Get that soil tested before sinking a lot of money in to it. 200# is a good starter.

most of my tests call for 60 lbs n for food plots. 200 lbs trip 17 at planting with 100 lbs amm. nitrate in mid Dec. would get you to 68 lbs n

The amount of N that you add really just depends on how much you want to drive plant growth. If lets say you had a 10-15 acre field and minimal browsing pressure then you might not want to add much N at all because it likely won't struggle to keep up with the deer. On the other hand, let's say you're planting a 1 acre plot in a high deer density. On that field you may want to drive plant growth much more so the amount of N applied may be higher. Don't worry so much about what the soil test tells you on N and instead use your eyes to tell you.

Something else to consider too is if you're growing wheat, oats, or cereal rye. Wheat requires N to flourish where cereal rye and oats really do not.

If your soil is good, I'd use one bag of fertilizer per one bag of seed. If you're worried about your soil, I'd use 2 bags of fertilizer per bag of seed.

If you really want to save money, you need to GPS all of the plots to see what you have and figure the amount per acre of seed and fertilizer per plot. I would also get a seed wagon and buy my fertilizer bulk and them take it up in 5 gallon buckets, just weigh a couple of buckets of fertilizer to get your application right.

You got a bunch of stupid answers to your question. Use the 200# of 17-17-17 you initially ask about. If you require fertilizer advice, call your local coop or county extension service office.

Without a soil test, most recomendations, are going to be 300-500lbs/acre of 17-17-17, per instructions on the bag of seed.

Here's a fertilizer calculator, which might help.

http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soil/fertcalc/

If his CoOp is like mine, they'll either act like you're from Mars when you ask a basic question, or just hang up on you.

Point being, I've gotten a TON better advice on here than from any seed store, etc.

I asked for a couple of bags of pot ash at the co-op and they looked at me like I was crazy. They said most people use triple 13 on their plots. I said good for them, but this is my specific needs.

Y'all shopping at the wrong store. Greg Federer @ Sanders/Federers in Cullman is an agronomist and is an excellent resource for fertilizer and chemical advise. They also have a field rep who will come out to your farm, if you spend enough $, and help with specific issues and even help pull soil and plant tissue samples. Great service.

Which coop did u go to?

Maybe could have a post for recommended vendors to weed out bad apples and recommend good ones. My brother uses a coop in Eutaw and speaks very highly of their knowledge and service. I'll post their name when I get it. I use both Sander Farm Supply in Hanceville & Sanders/Federers in Cullman. Would highly recommend both.

Leroy alabama co op

My experience is that the Co-Op usually has a knowledgeable person running the store, but the average person behind the counter is little more than a cashier. You can't count on them for answers to your questions.

Todd at Atmore Truckers in Atmore (251) 368-2191 or ask for Wade Taylor's #

David at Central AL Coop in Selmalia (334) 874-9083

We got a truck load of lime from David spread at our place (28 tons?) for about $1200. These were not tiny plots down narrow roads though. All we had to provide was an unlocked gate and somebody to show the driver where to go.

Without a soil test, I don't think you'll go wrong with 150-200 lbs 17-17-17 per acre on a plot. Then in about 45-60 days give it about 150 lbs 34-0-0 per and you should have some good looking plots. To be sure ask a knowledgeable person at the co-op or a farmer.

Before next fall, pull some samples and correct soil ph as needed. Then you can really dial in your fertilizer.