Originally Posted by
haystack
Around here nobody fertilizes rye, but there's adequate nutrients left over from the previous crop.
That's the main point IMO. If it has been used for ag or food plots before, there is already probably adequate nutrients in the soil. Soil history has a lot to do with if you can get by with no fertilizer or not.
The deer do know the difference between plants that have enough nutrients and those that do not. They get better nutrition from the plants with the proper levels of nutrients, and will absolutely prefer those above ones that do not.
If they dont have anything else to eat, it doesn't matter so much.