Bield:Hunt
Q.Food Plot Planning

Should I fertilize my food plot and with what?

A.

Yes, but pull a soil test first. Standard food plot fertilization for cereal grains and brassicas is roughly 200-300 lbs/acre of 19-19-19 (or equivalent NPK ratio). Clover fixes its own nitrogen and only needs P and K — typically 100-200 lbs/acre of 0-20-20. Lime to pH 6.5 if your soil test shows acidity.

Soil test results from your state extension lab cost $10-20 and tell you exactly what your plot needs. Skipping the test and over-applying fertilizer wastes money and pushes weeds; under-applying produces weak stands that get overgrazed and don't recover.

Lime is often the highest-leverage amendment — most untreated woods soils are pH 5.0-5.5, well below the 6.0-6.8 range food plot species prefer. See farm-side soil test guidance for reading results.

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