A UF/IFAS guide shares tips for fertilizers and soil health for healthy pastures, livestock nutrition, and productivity.
A UF/IFAS blog advised that “Maintaining healthy pastures is essential for livestock nutrition and overall farm productivity.” It further maintains that, in Central Florida, the area’s sandy soils and high rainfall pose a challenge. This is where the Best Practices concerning fertilizers and soil management come in. See the guide shared in the blog below.
Best Practices With Fertilizers and Soil
The UF/IFAS guide shared the following steps for optimizing fertilizers and soil health:
“1. Conduct Regular Soil Tests
- Testing soil at least every 2-3 years helps determine nutrient deficiencies and guides fertilization efforts.
- Local extension offices can get you the nutrient/soil form and how to send it off for affordable soil testing services.
2. Apply Fertilizers Based on Soil Needs
- Use soil test results to select the right fertilizer blend. Pastures typically require nitrogen for growth, phosphorus for root development, and potassium for overall plant health.
- For sandy soil, slow-release or split applications of nitrogen help prevent leaching.
3. Apply Lime or Sulfur as Needed
- If soil tests indicate a low pH (acidic soil), apply lime to raise pH levels and improve nutrient availability.
- If the soil pH is too high (alkaline soil), sulfur can be applied to lower it gradually…this is much harder to do and often a different grass may be suggested such as Bermuda, work with your extension agent to determine your best option.
- These amendments should be applied well in advance of the growing season, ideally in late fall or early winter, to allow time for pH adjustments before fertilization.
4. Time Fertilizer Applications Strategically
- Apply fertilizer during active growing seasons (spring and early fall) to maximize uptake and minimize runoff.
- Avoid fertilizing before heavy rains to prevent nutrient loss through leaching.
- The best practice is to spray for weeds at least two weeks before applying fertilizer. If you plan to spray, timing is important—make sure there’s adequate moisture in the soil. Avoid spraying during dry conditions or in the heat of the day for the best results.
5. Ensure Proper Water Availability
- Water is essential for fertilizer to be absorbed by plants. Without adequate moisture, nutrients remain unavailable in the soil.
- Light irrigation after fertilization can help nutrients penetrate the soil if rainfall is insufficient.
- Monitor rainfall patterns and adjust fertilization timing to align with expected precipitation, typically without the use of irrigation June 1st is the target date.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.