The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-04-20
EXPERIMENT STATION.
PRACTICAL TESTS CAREFULLY
EXPLAINED.
Selection and Comments on Bulletin
No. 20 by the Georgia Agri-
cultural Department.


ment station. which has lust been is
sued, contains the following valuable
experiments: General fertilizer eSperi-
ment ON corn; subsoiling for corn: inter.
cultural fertlhzlng corn; the effect of
todder-pufhng: deep. VS.. shallow cul-
tured corn; variety test corn; COMPOST
ing In the heap VS.. mixing in the furrow
corn; variety test of cotton: distance
experiment on cotton; effect of increas
ing amount of fertilizer-cotton: general
FERTILIZER experiment on cotton
AS presented in the bulletin. elaborate
tabular statements of the experiments
are given, furnishing a very complete
ana comprehensive view of the work.
In this report we do not consider it
necessary to reproduce these tables. as
those who desire to closely inquire into
the work OF the station can do SO by APP
plying to the director, Mr. r. j. Red
d1ng, Experiment, Ga. We would ad-
wise our farmers to avail themselves of
the benefits to be derived from a study
of the experimental work concluded at
the station and to have their names
placed on the mailing list.
FULTON EXPERIMENT ON CORN.
In this as in the other experiments.
we give the general with the results
and conclusions reached by the station,
with such experiments as is necessary i'll
the absence of the tabulated statements.
The experiment was located on q piece
Of fairly good clay soil following a good
crop of cotton in 1891. The land was
divided into 2S plots, each containing
three four-foot rows 105 feet long On
"A plots, eight combinations of super
phosphate, muriate of potash and nitrate
OF soda were used each combination
being applied to three plots On two
plots cotton seed meal was substituted
in the place of nitrate of soda in such
proportion as to furnish corresponding
percentages, and two plots were infer
t1llzed. For ascertaining the results.
the average of plots similarly fertilized
was taken. The different combinations
We're formed on 312 pounds superphos-
phate, 80 pounds muriate of potash and
DO pounds nitrate Of soda as a normal
ration. The changes being made by
doubling the ration of one or more or all
the ingredients. 1t will be seen that
the normal ration gave a fertilizer
which showed now about $40 phospho-
rIc acid, 4.6S potash and 2.79 ammonia.
The amount of potash contained in the
normal ration being from two to three
times the amount contained in the aver
borne in mind in considering the moor
results obtained by doubling this mate
rial. 1t should also be remGfl bered that
murlate Of potash, running about 80 per
cent. actual potash, doubling this ra-
ton rapidly increases the percentage of
potash In the mixture.
The highest increase in yield was
given on those plots on which the acid
phosphate only was doubled. A strik-
ing feature of the experiment was that
on this soil i'll none of the experiments
did the increased yield pay for the fer
tilizers used, the highest increase being
500 bushels with cost for fertilizers of
$7.16. The average yield on unfertilized
plots was 1896 bushels per acre.
that of fertilized "a SO bushels, and the
average cost of fertilizers was 81. 80 per
acre.
The following are the results and con-
illusions as given by the station:
RESULTS.
1. The Effect of Muriate of Potash
This form of potash seems to affect the
yield injuriously when the normal
quantity is doubled, especially those
plots on which the other elements were
applied in only normal quantities. This
effect is not apparent in every plot
where muriate of potash was applied in
double rations, but it is so in 10 out of
IA plots.
9. The Effect of Nitrate of Soda-In
seven plots out of 12 on which the nj
trate doubled, the other elements re-
naming the same, the yield was in
creased
3. The Effect of Superphosphate-In
eight plots out of IA on which the super
phosphate was doubled, the others re-
manning unchanged, the yield was in
creased
4. The Effect of Cottonseed Meal
Teere were two plots on which cotton
seed meal was substituted for a double
ration of nitrate of soda. In one plot 81
the yield was increased, and III the
other pilot 10Y the yield was decreased
by the substitution.
CONCLUSIONS.
/. The use Of muriate of potash was
of doubtful benefit on this land. Even
if beneficial III small doses, a limit is
soon reached beyond which an increase
in the amount is certainly injurious.
2. The effect of superphosphate was
certainly beneficial.
3. The effect of nitrate of soda was
also of decided benefit.
4. Cotton seed meal did not seem so
decided III its effects.
5. In general, the results of this ex-
pertinent do not favor the use of con-
centrated chemical fertilizers on corn.
In no case did the increased yield of the
fortified plots over the unfertilized pay
for the cost of the fertilizer.
See Results and Conclusions" I'M
der Experiment No. 7, Table VI
sUBsOILING FOR CORN.
In considering the results of the ex-
pertinent, the effect of the character of
the season should be borne in mind, as
in a dry season great benefit might
be derived, while in wet season its
effect might hardly be perceptible.
The effect of nitrating is also given in
this experiment. The nitrate was APP
piled on April 81, at the time of the
first blowing, and on June 10. The
quantity was 1870 pounds per acre.
RESULTS.
The effect of subsoiling amoudted
practically to nothing. the increased
yield being only 23-100 of bushel, or
less than one peck of corn per acre.
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