pounds per acre of N are recommended for a crop of hay or
silage. Fertilization to produce maximum growth either before
or after forage harvest in central and south Florida may be
varied according to the date of application, using the following
schedule:

 Date of Application Fertilizer, pounds per acre
 Oct. 1 Mar. 31 10-10-10 500
 Apr. 1 May 15 12-6-6 400
 May 16 Aug. 15 Ammonium nitrate 150
 Aug. 16 Sept. 30 12-6-6 400

 Summer applications of N should be used in combination
with complete fertilizer at other seasons, never as a single yearly
treatment.
 Most fall-harvested hay is medium to low in protein content,
but application of N approximately three weeks prior to mowing
has been shown to increase digestible crude protein and con-
sumption rate of pangolagrass hay (4).

Factors Affecting Response to Fertilizer
 Applications of either complete fertilizer or N materials on
 pangolagrass sod sometimes fail to give the expected results.
 Low quality fertilizer, lack of lime, and minor element de-
 ficiencies are often blamed but seldom responsible for poor per-
 formance. The most frequent causes of poor results from
 fertilization may be described as follows:
 1. Heavy rainfall within 48 hours after fertilization reduces
 effect of N treatment and delays response. Treatment of dif-
 ferent pastures at different dates lessens the risk of rain loss on
 a large area; limiting application to a maximum of 50 pounds
 N per acre at one date is recommended.
 2. Extended periods of cold or dry weather retard grass
 response but most plant food remains available for later growth.
 Supplemental feeding of cattle usually has more value than at-
 tempts to force pasture growth during unfavorable weather.
 3. Continued close grazing immediately after fertilization
 reduces yields and causes apparent lack of growth response.
 Most of the available N is taken into the plant within 7 to 14
 days after application; removal of this growth represents a
 severe drain on the fertility of the pasture. Complete removal
 of cattle for a reasonable period should be practiced.