The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-24
Loss OF SOIL Fertility.
Experiments With Renewing II Con
Quoted in England.

experiments With Renewing II Con-
Quoted in England.
The loss Of fertility from SOIL occurs
in various ways, but the characteristics
Of soils have much influence on the loss.
ana somethisg also DEPENDS upon the kind
of manure or fertilizer used. One result
of Al inquiry regarding the mineral fer
tilizers used in the Rothmasted expert
meut farms in England. is 10 show that
neither potash or phosphoric acid, when
present in excess of immediate require
ments. is liable 10 escape from the soil
or sink 10 deptL beyond the reach Of
plant roots. and that IL such should hap
pen the quantity would be very small
When harnyard manure is used. both
the potash and the phosphoric acid con-
tanned IN the manure have been found to
descerd IN moro liberal quantities, and to
greater depth INTO the subsoi. than
when applied IN The form OF fertilizers
The excess phosphoric acid and potash
derived from the superphosphate and
potash salts respectively accumulate in
tha fist nine inches OF the soil. but are
less soluble than the same substance sup
piled I'm barryard manure. The accumu-
lations Of phosphoric acid are less fixed
but. consequently more available. when
alkaline salts have been applied with
suoerphosphate, and it is also the case
that potash salts are similarly affected.
i'm q beneficial sense, when there are ac-
companyins applications Of phosphate and
heterogeneous substances. it has. therefore,
been demonstrated that the loss from the
SOL is not as great as has been supposed,
and that the soil has the power to return
the larger share of soluble plant foods
nearer the surface, if it is not exceedingly
porus.
During the entire year the amount Of
water that falls upon a field is very large.
and soluble substances are consequently
dissolved especially as the actual amount
of water used by crops. compared with
that which falls. is small. The rains
vould socn ieplete the soil of ITS soluble
mineral matter bur for the power Of the
soil to retain potash ard other substances.
For that reason scrnc soils are more val
uaole tran others The initiates in soils
are more easily carried away than potash
or phosphoric acid. hence il is possible
that the Jos sin tine form of nitrates may
be large. especially during the very wet
weather When the soil is dry eyapora-
tian brings TO the surface some OF the
nitrates carried down by the rains and
growing crops ais prevent loss by pro
tectinc the soil. or by appropriating the
plant foods II is wei known. also, that
some soil absorbs gases from the air
hence some Of the ammonia lost from the
soil is recovered in that manner. and the
powe rof ordicary land plaster TO absorb
gases has enabled some farmers to gain
fertility to their soils by its use. while
ammonia is largely brought down by
rains to the soil. the result being that it
is converted into nitric acid In the soil
there is a large ard abundant supply Of
plant foods. but they 90 not exist ia forms
which permit Of their use except fin lin
tied supply. This is "a provision of nature
to prevent exhaustion OF the soil, for if
the plant foods iH tho soil were easily
rendered soluble the soil would long ago
have been deprived of tnetn. But they
are ia the soil and ready for use. when
demanded but the soil viii not give Up
these foods except when certain natural
laws have been complied with. ard even
the farmer cannot rob the soil hy taking
thcrefrom more tnau q faIr proportion
unless he pays the cost OF So doing 10 en-
2Icount which is really prohibitorv 20 a
certain extent When farmer eXhacsts
g s7I by excessive crcyring. ani without
returning something rs d compensation
therefor. he simply deprives the soil Of
rs soluble portions, blt even the poorest
SOIL VIII have LETT for q future reserve. /
lis vast stores ~ ilsoluble plant foods
The farmer who uses manure and fer
tiizes thereby gains from the soil more
than De- applies, because the materials /
" hich De ACIDS to Che soil serve to render
seiaaie rhe inert pignt Goods existing IN
THE soil. and. as il fakes capital 20 make
money ir business. SO IT takes manure
ana fertilizers 10 mako the sol mere sub /
serFient IN the demands OF tile farmer. /
Every dollar expended for plant food to
ot applied IN the son is an investment /
which be the future is s7lre O. bring good (
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