Does rotational bale grazing affect the distribution of soil nutrients across pastures?

Abstract Rotational bale grazing (RBG), the strategic feeding of round hay bales directly on pasture with controlled access, offers an alternative to continuous winter hay feeding in a single paddock. This study evaluated RBG's potential to redistribute nutrients by increasing soil concentrations in field areas with lower phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations while mitigating excess concentrations in other areas. Soil nutrient concentrations were measured over 2 years before and after RBG implementation. Changes in Mehlich 1‐P, Mehlich 1‐K, water‐soluble P, nitrate‐nitrogen (NO 3 ‐N), and pH values were compared across three treatments: (a) RBG bale (soil grids where hay bales were placed in the RBG system), (b) RBG no‐bale (soil grids where no‐bales were placed in the RBG system), and (c) continuous (soil under continuous winter hay feeding for >2 decades). The RBG bale treatment added Mehlich 1‐P to the soil, but not in sufficient quantities to significantly increase concentrations compared with the RBG no‐bale treatment. In contrast, Mehlich 1‐K values increased substantially in the RBG bale treatment areas. Each hay bale applied ∼17.86 lb of K, far exceeding the amount needed to raise soil test K concentrations by 1 ppm. Water‐soluble P remained stable in the RBG bale treatment areas but decreased in the RBG no‐bale treatment areas. Bale placement had no significant effect on NO 3 ‐N or pH values. These findings demonstrate RBG's potential to improve soil fertility in nutrient‐deficient pasture areas, particularly through notable increases in Mehlich 1‐K values.