The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-24
NITROGEN from Air or Soil


answered in the columns of the Country
| Gentleman 4:
How do plants obtain their supply Of nitro
gen. OF course | understand that it come
from ammonia. But do they, or does any
class of them. obtain it directly from The
atmosphere by the absorption of their leaves
or is it taken up through the roots? There
must be n difference of opinion on this point
In the course of my agricultural reading
have frequently met with the statement IL
communication that such plant absOrbs am
monia from the atmosphere through is
leaves. Your esteemed correspondent A.,
i'm an article on clover, on page 22S OF The
current volume uf your paper, states that
" the clover plant absorbS nitrogen from the
atmosphere and returns it to the soil
On page rs, in your issue OF February 90,
Levi Bartlett in Il review Of Professor Eillc's
lectures on High Farming without Animal
ManircS, quotes the Professor rs saying that
\ certain class of plants cnn only obtain their
nitrogen from the soil, while the cicver>.
peas, bcauS, &c, obtain their nitrogen from
the atmosphere.
The authorities have had the privilege of
studying have taught NE differently. Waring.
in Elements of Agriculture, says: Sew if
any plants can take it up (ammonia) as they
do carbonc acid through their leaves. 1t
must all enter through their roots in soIu.
ton in the water, which GOES to form the
slp." Joseph Harris, in the .igi,uNm3si
for April, in speaking of the amount Of
nitrogen in u crop of clover, adds: THAT
the clover got this nitrogen from the soil.
and not from the atmosphere, admits of little
doubt" In conversation with distin-
be stated that there was not the slightest ey,-
dence whatever that plants absorb nitrogen
through their leaves. The students of tlp.
Maine Agricultural College are taught that
plants take il up. by means of their roots,
from thu sell.
Now, then. when have OCCASION TO aIlute
TO this matter in communications. or when |
talk to my brother farmers, how shall tell
them plants obtain their supply Of nitrogen
Il. \. GILBERT.
We cannot do better in reply than 10 quote
from Professor Iohnson's" How Crops Feed"
one or two brief extracts relating to the
above query:
Nitrogen exists in immense quantities in
the atmosphere, and we may regard the lat
ter rs the primal source of this element To
the organic world. In the atmosphere, how
Ill IL
free state, and il a such $50 we must believe
from existing evidcncc) unls>imiable by
crops. Its aSsimable compounds. ammonia
and ,irric acid. occur in the atmosphere,
bnt in proportion so minute as to have 40
influence on vegetable growth directly appre-
cjallr by the methods of investigation hith-
rrto employed. unless they ar" collected and
concentrated by r7lin and dew"
fab ~ ti,NI1s IL
in England and Prussia ;ls TO the amount of
nitrogen annually brought down III rain,
snow. &c. upon IN acre Of surface, showing
an average result in eleven determinations
of 81 pounds per year per acre.
..To estimate the adequacy Of these atmo-
Sphere supplies of lsSn'lIhlc nitrogen wc
may compare their amount with the quantity
of uitrooru required in the composition of
standard crops. and with the quantity con-
tanned in appropriate applications OF nitro
gcnous fertilizers.
The average atmospheric supply of nutri-
tive nitrogen in rain, etc, tor l. months, rs
,hnyc ,ciyrn. is much less than is necessary
for ordinary crops. According to DR.. Ander-
son, the nitrogen in crop oil y bushels OF
wheat and (Iong) ton 3c"l. OF straw Is 4lt
mounds; that in j tons of meadow hay /,
nj
vcr hay u (one) tons is no less tl.an los
nound; Obviously. therefore, the atmo-
spherc waters alone are incapable OF furnish
inc crops with the quantity of nitrogen they
require.
lon the other hand, the atmospheric sup
nIy of nitrogen by rain, etc, Is not incon-
Siderable compared with the amount of nitro
,,eu. which often forms III effective manurinS.
frat f,f s,,I., lIIfI
saItpctrc) each contain about - per cent. Of
nitrogen. The nitrogen OF rain. estimated
by the average above giyen-rK., s. pounds
to IS pounds OF these fertilizers.
Two hundred pounds OF glIauo Is for most
field purposes sufficient application. and
400 pounds is Il large manurlr@. In Great
Britain, where nitrate of soda Is largely eur
moved as fertilizer, liz pounds Of this sub
stance is al ordinary dressing, when Ills
been known to double the grass crop.
I've conclude. then, that the direct al
nosphcric supply Of ass'lnIlabc nitrogen
though not unmportant, Is lnSllllcleht lot
crops. :, =,
I'VE must, Therefore, look to the soil to
SUNNY Il large share OF this element, ~ well
rs TO he the medium through which The u.s.
simiIabc atmospheric nitrogen chiefly enters
the plant.
In conclusion of this branch of the sub
icc;. Professor Johnson gives Il tabular view
Of the relations of the atmospheric mgrc-
dients to the life Of plants, which it may be
TO >ubioin:
.Absorbed by Plants.
Oxygen, 10y roots, flowers, ripcning fruit,
and by all growing parts.
Carbonic acid, by foliage and green parts.
but only in the light.
Ammonia, as carbonate, by foliage, proba-
bly, at all times.
Water, as liquid, through the roots.
>;,u,,.;1 } united to ammonia, and dis
aureus M acio' solved in water through
Nitric acid the roots.
S Ma2sh gax, uncertain.
Not AhSorbcd Jy PiGntS.
Nitrogen.
Water in Il state Of yapor.
Erhoicd By Plants.
Oxygen by foliage and green parts, nut
Ozore, only IN tie light.
Marsh gas, in traces by equatic plants.
Water, as cnpoT, from SUI face OF plant NJ
all times.
Carhonic acid from the growing parts at
all times.
Messy Rocks.
A . l,ly htuhar