Ryan,

There are lots of variables to consider when selecting which and how much fertilizer to use.  The first step is to do a soil test!  This is the easiest and most practical method to know which and how many nutrients are needed to produce a specific crop at each location.  Remember that plants are simply nutrient transfer agents.  Forage crops remove nutrients from the ground and air and convert them to a form that critters can consume and digest.  If the nutrients aren’t in the ground and/or air plants can’t make them available for critters to consume.  

Malnourished plants often don’t taste good in addition to being unproductive.  Hence, malnourished plants won’t attract as many deer as healthy plants.  This is why it’s critical to do a soil test (so you’ll know what type and how many pounds of nutrients to add) as part of establishing every food plot. Often 100’s of pounds of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are required depending on the type of crop being ground the needs of the local soil.  

It’s is often very difficult to add enough nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium in a liquid form to meet a crop’s needs.  Remember that most of liquid fertilizer is water – and the percentage of nutrients in each gallon is often very limited.  There is no magic formula.  Determine how many pounds of each element is needed and then add that amount in any format and enjoy hunting over the healthy crop!  

Enjoy creation,

grant