The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-11
RESERVED FERTILITY.
How to Make 1t Available by Frequent
Small Applications of Manure.

How TO Make 1t Available by Frequent
Small Applications of Manure.
The soil is inexhaustible. If it were
not there would be but little hope fol
the careless farmer who continues to
grow crops without returning anything
TO the soil in the shape of manure, and
who would soon be unable to produce
even his seed back again. But the soil
contains every element of plant growth
in more or less quantity and can not Of
course be exhausted so long as it re-
mains. After certain course of
cropping, however, the richest soil is
found to produce less and less, until it
reaches a stationary limit, which on
the average of seasons, remains the
same continuously. This is well ex-
emplified in the experiments which
have been carried on at Rothamstead
by DR.. Lawcs for more than forty years.
These have shown that after forty
years of cultivation the yield of wheat
grown every year continuously on the
same land averages II bushels per
acre. When the season is favorable
for full draft upon the soil the yield
may run up to II or even 20 bushels,
running down to or 10 bushels in un-
favorable years, the favorable con-
ditiOns being a genial winter and
ample rainfall in the spring, and the
unfavorable conditions a hard winter
and dry season. Continued growth
Of wheat shows no diminutiOn in the
yield, which seems to indicate that this
measures what may be called the re-
served fertility of the soil of the
Rothamstead land.
1t is readily seen that this reserved
fertility is the amount of soluble matter
in the soil that can be reached and APP
propriated by the roots of the wheat,
and which is so small in comparison
with the quantity of the soil that the
process may go on indefinitely year
after year without any possibility of
exhaustion. 1t is also very satisfac-
tory basis for fixing the value of the
land, which. as Il matter of course,
varies with the degree of productive
ness; and it furnishes point from
which the farmer can start on the road
to improvement in the culture of his
soil. 1t is quite safe to believe that
many farmers have reached this start
ing point, for they have found their
crops to decrease year after year until
the stationary minimum varies from
to II bushels. The better yield from
well-farmed land, which varies from
10 to 30 bushels. raises the general
4 orb ,
bushels per acre for the past few years,
Dut the higher yield is reached in but
lew instances. while the large majority
If cases give less than the general av-
,ragc yield. There is no good reason
o doubt that if American farmers
worked their land with the thoror OH
less of the English farmers. our point
If reserved fertility would reach at least
hat of the Rothamstead land, if it did
lot surpass it, because of our more
adorable climate for growing wheat.
But the blowing is done very badly rs
! rule. and narrowing. which is equally
is really not done at all as
narrowing should be done, the surface
,cing merely scratched enough to cover
he seed.
1t is clear that Il farmer can. not
ford to live along in the unsatisfactory
labit of merely drawing on the re-
erved fertility of the land, neglecting
IL methods of aiding this by better !
ulture and ample manuring. 1t is in
.ispensable that every effort should be /
made to reinforce this power of the soil |
D produce crops so that Il maximum
ield may be reached. The reserve OF !
ertility is to be taken as the ability of /
he soil TO produce crops without any
lanuring. 1t is supposed to include !
II such aids rs draining, careful and /
borough blowing, and the perfect dis
of the soil by skilful harrow
10. And all this should be done be-
ere the farmer can fix the actual pro-
ucing value of his land. When this
ONT is reached further aid is to be
ought in blowing under green crops.
specially clover, such system of
citation as will give the land rest
rom excessive grain growing and IN
ccumulation of vegetable matter for
he supply of available nitrogen and
matter, and best of all the
Sc of fertilizers and manure.
The soil may be considered not only
5 an ineXhaustible store of plant food
l itself. but as medium through
-hich additional food NAV be furnished
} the crops. This additional food not
My helps the crops bywhat it supplies
} them. but also by the help it gives
} increase the reserve of fertility by
laking the mineral elements of the
Dil more soluble. or by making avail
bic inert nitrogen which is existing in
lie soil. A conSpicuously apt illustra-
on may be given of this in the use of
me or wood ashes or gypsum as fer
lizer. Each of these adds plant food
, the soil, and also exertS an effect
pom the latest plant food in it. The
suit of an application of these fertil-
ers is thus not only to furnish food
II the crops, but to bring new sup
" out of the reserve. 1t is not wise
object to the use of these and
her special fertilizers which act in
e same manner, because manure ]
self works in the same way, and if it {
the result of one to increase the {
'oduct at the expense of the reserved j
rtilitv of the land it is equally the 1
ne with the other That this is true is !
own by the effect of over-manuring.
: which 4 wheat crop is so weakened
the straw that it lodges or rusts and
seriously injured or even wholly de-
royed. as well rs by the excessive use
lime or plaster, so-called stimulantS,
which the reserve is largely drawn
ION, by increasing the consuming