The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-27

!, FOR THE FARMER

~NNHtNHNHNNES go VF0#~"oH~
The Ohio experiment station has IS
sued bulletin ON the maintenance of
fertility which covers field experiments
for ten years. The results are sum
married. rs follows:
On soils formed chiefly from the ar
gillaceous shalcs Of the Wavcrly series
phosphoric acid is found TO be the con
stituent of fertility first required by
corn, oats. wheat and potatoes, but
the maximum yield has not been OBJ
tanned until both nitrogen and potash
were also added.
When used alone or IN combination
with each other only, nitrogen and
potash have produced but a very small
Increase and have always been thus
used at a heavy financial loss.
The complete fertilizer, containing
all three constituents, has produced Il
much larger total Increase than the
sum Of the Increase produced by the
constituents used separately
When the cereal crops have been
grown continuously on the same land,
the maximum increase OF crop, per
pound OF fcrtIlizing constituents ap-
piled, has been obtained when these
constituents were used IA approximate
~ the same ratio to each other Ia
which they are found IN thc crop, but
the total recovery Of fcrtilizing con
stitucnts in increase Of crop under
continuous cropping has never exceed
ed 60 per cent OF the quantity applied
I'm the fetllizcr.
When the cereal. lave been grown In
rotation with clover, the recovery OF
nitrogen has uuGer favorable condi
tons exceeded the amount applied In
the fertilizer. but even under these
conditions the recovery OF phosphoric
acid and potash has remained far be
low the quantity applied IN the fer
tllizcr when maximum yields were
reached.
Thus far I'm these experiments the sur
plus nitrogen accumulated 10y Il crop
Of clover, the roots only being left in
the ground. has not been more than
sufficient TO satisfy the demands Of the
one crop Immediately following the
clover.
At the prices at which mixed fer
tilizcrs are sold I'm Onto the attempt To
furnish all the nitrogen. rs well rs all
tho phosphoric acid and potash re-
qulred 10 produce increase ia cereal
crops grown ln continuous culture has
invariably resulted IN pccunlary loss.
although n very large increase of crop
has been thus produced.
The rotation of cereals with nitrogen
gathering crops. therefore, has been
shown to be- absolutely essential 10 the
profitable use of commercial fertilizers
IN any form.
The increase OF crop per pound of
fertilizlng constituents applied has gen
orally been smaller when barnyard
manure was used as the carrier Of fer
tllity than when chemical cafricrs were
used. but the lower cost ol harnyari
manure has made it possible Co use this
material with profit when the use OF
commercial fertilizers resulted i'm loss.
A marked superiority is indicated
from manure which has been kept I'M
der cover until required for use over
that which has been exposed even for
but "a short time I'm an open barnyard,
and II seems possible to materially IN
crease the effectiveness Of manure by
treating it with nitrogen fixing mate
rails.
Nitrate Of soda has shown itself TO
be the most effective OF the carriers Of
nitrogen employed IN these expert.
ments, with sulphate Of ammonia.
dried blood and linseed oil meal fol
lowing in the order named.
OF the four carriers Of phosphoric
acid used basic Stag and dissolved
boncblack show the highest effective
ness, with raw bone meal and acid
phosphate not far below.
The tendency 10 excessive production
Of straw in wheat aud oats is apparent
ly due in part 20 climatic and in part
to soil conditions, and the remedy APP
parently lies in systematic rotation.
combined with judiclous selection and
distribution Of fcrtilizlng materials.