- What fertilizer option is recommended for this pasture?
Fertilizer recommendations for a specific forage crop are shown in the "Nutrient
Requirements" section of the University of Missouri soil test report. Up to four different forage
crops may be shown under the "Cropping Options" heading. Two types of fertilizer
recommendations are given for each forage crop - establishment recommendations and production
recommendations. Establishment recommendations should be used when a new forage is being
planted. Production recommendations should be used for pasture production of the existing forage.
Each crop listed is assigned a "yield goal" or desired yield level. Establishment fertilizer
recommendations have a yield goal of zero since no yield is expected at establishment time. Yield
goals for pasture are shown as CD/A, which stands for "cow days per acre". One CD/A is 30
pounds of forage dry matter which is the average amount of forage needed for a 1000 lb. cow with
a three to four month old calf. Recommendations for pounds of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5),
and potash (K2O) needed to reach those yield goals are given for each crop.
NOTE: Each crop option will be identified on the left side by a three-digit number in
the cropping options section. The student must choose the correct crop option from one of
the reports used in the contest and write the corresponding identification number on the
scorecard.
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