Fertilization and the Influence of Soil pH

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 plant species. When soils are very acidic (pH less than 5.8), soil bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legume stands are negatively affected and soil biological activity is reduced. The opposite of this is also true, raising the pH too high can reduce the solubility of aluminum and manganese, which can be potentially toxic to plants at high levels.