Grass Hay Field Application

Improve the quality and quantity of hay production by applying Mushroom Compost at a rate of 1/2 inch to 1 inch in depth (68 – 129 cubic yards per acre). Follow the “less is more” adage since a deeper application will smother the grass.
Seasonal Application
Spring Application: The soil is usually too wet to bring heavy equipment onto the field and once the soil warms up the grass is growing too rapidly and quickly becomes too tall for application.

Summer Application: Mushroom Compost can be applied after each cutting during the growing season. An applica- tion can be made up until the time that fieldwork damages the next stand of grass.

Winter Application: This time of year, when the soil is still frozen, can be an opportune time to make a Mushroom Compost application. It is not recommended to apply on top of snow. If making multiple applications of Mushroom Compost during the year, a yearly soil test is recommended.
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Equipment For hay field application, use a manure spreader to provide as uniform an application as possible. If Mush- room Compost is applied too deep or piled too high in areas of the field, drag the field with a drag chain or similar equipment perpendicular to the direction in which the field was spread.

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The Results Improved soil health; improved crop health; higher crop yields in drought than with commercial fertilizers; 24 percent residual value in second year, improving soil for 3-5 years; since mushrooms are grown year round, Mushroom Compost is available year round.
Generic Crop Applications
Based on application of fresh Mushroom Compost with a mean bulk density of 574.73 lbs/yd3
1" depth (65 to 130 yd3/acre)
Nitrogen (N)1.12%6.4 lbs/yd3832 lbs/acre
Phosphate (P2o5.67%3.8 lbs/yd3494 lbs/acre
Potash (K2O1.24%7.1 lbs/yd3923 lbs/acre
organic Matter25.53%146.7 lbs/yd319,071 lbs/acre
1" depth (260 yd3/acre)
Nitrogen (N)1.12%6.4 lbs/yd31,664 lbs/acre
Phosphate (P2o5.67%3.8 lbs/yd3988 lbs/acre
Potash (K2O1.25%7.1 lbs/yd31846 lbs/acre
organic Matter25.53%146.7 lbs/yd338,142 lbs/acre
3" depth (390 yd3/acre)
Nitrogen (N)1.12%6.4 lbs/yd32,496 lbs/acre
Phosphate (P2o5.67%3.8 lbs/yd31,482 lbs/acre
Potash (K2O1.25%7.1 lbs/yd32,769 lbs/acre
organic Matter25.53%146.7 lbs/yd357,213 lbs/acre
Top 10 Reasons
to Use Mushroom Compost on Grass Hay Fields
  1. Increase yields and lower costs. Reduce the need for inorganic fertilizers.
  2. Decrease or eliminate the cost of liming.
  3. Restore soil structure by improving soil quality, nutrient content and beneficial soil microbe population and activity.
  4. Improve water retention during drought conditions and in poor soils. Improve water infiltration in clay soils.
  5. Mushroom Compost’s organic nutrient values are verifiably consistent and available year round.
  6. It is sustainable agriculture and a good environ- mental stewardship practice, providing a nutrient rich soil amendment in a complete ecological recycling process.
  7. Composting reverses soil organic matter depletion, providing improved crop production.
  8. Composting stabilizes nitrogen and reduces nitrate leaching.
  9. Significantly higher crop yields in droughts – studies indicate compost amended soil can produce yields higher than traditional fertilizer yields in drought years.
  10. Mushroom Compost is a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) accepted fertilizer and PA Preferred product.