Forage Rejuvenation: Fertilization and the Influence of Soil pH

The Rejuvenation of Hay & Pasture page on BeefResearch.ca has been “rejuvenated” to include more content relevant to Eastern Canadian producers. Updated information has also been added for the various methods of rejuvenating forages in regions across the country. Rejuvenation of a forage stand, whether hay or pasture, involves using one or a combination of methods to increase productivity with a shift towards higher yielding forage species that provide improved nutritional value for livestock. If an assessment of the current forage stand shows that there is not enough of a desired plant species, then fertilization can be an effective tool to reinvigorate and increase forage yields. Starting with a soil test, improving nutrient deficiencies can increase forage production. Before making the investment in fertilizer, soil pH should be accounted for in conjunction with fertilizer plans—in the event of low soil pH, nutrients may be present in the soil but unavailable for uptake by plan