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Foliar Liquid Fertilizer - Worth the money or not?

12K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  farmgirl19  
#1 ·
Anybody have real experience with foliar fertilizers on hay fields? Lots of conflicting data on efficacy and application.
 
#3 ·
My Opinion Is Not Worth The Money

I sprayed 3 fields of annual ryegrass with 15 10 5 foliar fertizer to exact specs on the label. Field 1 had been fertilized at planting and not grazed. Field 2 had been fertilized at planting and grazed. Field 3 was not fertilized at planting but was lightly grazed. I also had a field that was fertilized at planting and not sprayed or grazed, and a field that was fertilized at planting and not sprayed but grazed.

I realize this is not pure science and just my observation and opinion, but I could not find any unbiased or scientific information, so I did my own quick study.

After one month, the foliar fertilizer sprayed fields are behind the un-sprayed fields. All the fields are next to each other; same rain, same soils. Field 3 looks a little better, but could be just the rain.

My opinion, foliar fertilizer is a waste of money for annual ryegrass.
 
#5 ·
Have to change opinion of foliar fertilizer. Just finished harvesting rye grass. Both pastures received identical fertilization at time of planting. Front pasture received foliar fertilizer when rye grass was about a foot high. At harvest, this pasture, treated with foliar fertilizer, produced 6.67 4x5 round bales per acre. Untreated pasture produced 5.76 4x5 round bales per acre. Historically, the untreated pasture, has out produced the front pasture, when both pastures were fertilized the same. So, something has definitely changed. The foliar fertilizer application was the only difference.
 

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#6 ·
The only thing I use liquid sprayed fertilizer is when sprying foliar zinc on pecan trees. I am equipped to do broadcast granules or spray fertilizer, but find granules work best, if needed, EXCEPT with the zinc. Might be my own experience, so take it FWIW.