Fertilizer for Hay Fields: How Soil Fertility Affects Yield and Forage Production

Choosing the right fertilizer for hay fields is an important part of maintaining productive forage acreage.

Every time hay is harvested and removed from a field, nutrients leave with the crop. If those nutrients are not appropriately replaced over time, soil fertility can decline and forage productivity can suffer.

But fertilizer management is not simply a matter of applying more nutrients.

The most effective approach starts with understanding your soil, forage species, yield goals and production system.

Mayford Hay supplies fertilizer products alongside its hay and livestock products, allowing farmers to source multiple agricultural inputs from one supplier.

Why Soil Fertility Matters

A productive hay field requires more than good seed and favorable weather.

Plants need access to appropriate nutrients to establish, grow and produce forage.

When a nutrient becomes limiting, plant growth can suffer.

This can affect:

• Hay yield
• Stand density
• Plant vigor
• Forage composition
• Long-term field productivity

Because hay removes nutrients from the field, fertility management is particularly important in frequently harvested systems.

Start With a Soil Test

Before choosing a fertilizer, test the soil.

A soil test can help determine nutrient availability and identify potential deficiencies.

Instead of asking:

“What fertilizer should I buy?”

start with:

“What nutrients does this field actually need?”

That distinction can prevent unnecessary applications and help improve fertilizer efficiency.

Nitrogen for Grass Hay

Nitrogen is particularly important in many grass forage systems.

Grass plants use nitrogen for vegetative growth, which means nitrogen availability can have a significant effect on forage production.

However, applying excessive nitrogen can increase costs without producing an equivalent benefit.

Nitrogen requirements depend on factors such as:

• Grass species
• Soil fertility
• Expected yield
• Previous crops
• Manure applications
• Irrigation
• Climate
• Harvest frequency

Use soil tests and appropriate agronomic recommendations rather than guessing.

Phosphorus and Potassium

Nitrogen receives much of the attention in hay production, but phosphorus and potassium are also important.

Their availability can influence plant growth and overall field productivity.

The correct fertilizer program should therefore address the actual nutrient needs of the soil rather than focusing on a single nutrient.

Fertilizer for Alfalfa Fields

Alfalfa is a legume, so its fertility requirements differ from those of pure grass stands.

Because legumes can obtain nitrogen through biological fixation, producers should not automatically approach an alfalfa field with the same nitrogen strategy used for grass.

Instead, soil testing and forage-specific recommendations should guide nutrient management.

Fertilizer for Pasture vs Hay Fields

Pasture and hay fields can have different nutrient cycles.

Grazing animals return some nutrients directly to the field through manure and urine.

Harvesting hay removes nutrients from the field and exports them elsewhere.

That difference should be considered when planning long-term soil fertility.

Mayford Hay Fertilizer Products

Mayford’s current catalog includes fertilizer options such as:

• 0-45-0 Triple Superphosphate Ton Sack
• 18-46-0 DAP in Ton Sack
• 19-19-19 Ton Sack
• 20-10-10 Ton Sack
• 4-0-8 Liquid Fertilizer Tote
• Slow Release 14-14-14
• Slow Release 15-9-12
• UAN Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer Ton

The catalog lists fertilizer alongside Mayford’s hay and cattle categories.

You can view Mayford’s complete agricultural product catalog to see currently available products.

Understanding Fertilizer Numbers

Fertilizer labels commonly display three numbers representing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

For example, a 19-19-19 fertilizer contains equal percentages of those three nutrients by weight.

A product such as 18-46-0 has a different nutrient profile.

The appropriate fertilizer depends on the soil and crop requirements.

Therefore, a fertilizer with a higher number is not necessarily “better.”

Slow-Release Fertilizer

Mayford’s catalog also includes slow-release fertilizer products, including 14-14-14 and 15-9-12 formulations designed for a 3–4 month release period.

Slow-release fertilizers can provide nutrients over a longer period, depending on the product, soil conditions and application.

Farmers should always follow the manufacturer’s application instructions.

Liquid Fertilizer

Mayford also lists liquid fertilizer options, including 4-0-8 Liquid Fertilizer and UAN Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer.

Liquid and granular fertilizers have different handling and application considerations.

The choice should depend on the farm’s equipment, crop requirements, application strategy and agronomic recommendations.

Don’t Fertilize by Guesswork

One of the most expensive mistakes a farmer can make is applying fertilizer without understanding the soil.

Over-application can:

• Increase input costs
• Waste nutrients
• Create environmental concerns
• Produce unnecessary plant growth
• Complicate nutrient management

Under-application can also be costly if nutrient deficiencies limit forage production.

Soil testing provides a much better foundation.

Fertility and Hay Quality

Fertilizer can influence plant growth, but it is not the only factor determining hay quality.

Forage quality is also affected by:

• Plant species
• Plant maturity
• Harvest timing
• Weather
• Curing
• Leaf retention
• Storage

A well-fertilized field can still produce poor-quality hay if it is harvested at the wrong stage or improperly cured.

Fertility and Hay Yield

When a nutrient deficiency is limiting growth, correcting that deficiency can improve forage production.

For commercial hay producers, greater productivity per acre can improve the economics of the farm.

But the goal should not simply be maximum tonnage.

The goal should be productive, nutritious and marketable forage.

Keep Fertilizer Records

Good record keeping can make future decisions easier.

Record:

• Soil test results
• Fertilizer product
• Application date
• Application rate
• Field
• Hay yield
• Weather conditions
• Manure applications

Over time, these records can help identify trends and improve management.

Final Thoughts

The best fertilizer for a hay field is the fertilizer that supplies the nutrients the soil and forage actually need.

Start with soil testing. Understand the forage species. Establish realistic yield goals. Then choose an appropriate fertilizer product and application strategy.

Mayford Hay supplies a range of fertilizer products in addition to hay, cattle feed and cattle products.

Explore Mayford Hay’s agricultural products to see the current selection.