Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-11-06
The Nitrogen of Plants.

The Nitrogen of Plants.
The actual value of a fertilizer to the
farmer is governed by the kind OF
crop, the soil and the time when the
fertilizer is applied. The plant foods
sought arc potash, phosphoric acid and
nitrogen, and these foods exist in va
rious articles known as fertilizers. But
no matter what the materials may be,
the ones sought at all times. they
are the substances which give manure
its value. and whether the farmer
uses manure, plows under green crops
or purchases artificial fertilizers, he
supplies the land with potash, phos-
phoric acid and nitrogen as foods for
plants. The next point is the availa-
bility of these plant foods. The farmer
may spread tons Of barnyard manure
on his land, but until it dccomposes
and becomes soluble in water the
plants can derive no benefit from it,
hence the farmer considers manure the
best of all materials, because, as he
expresses it, "it lasts for several
years." when in fact it has simply
failed to give him immediate benefits.
The same rule applies to fertilizers,
as the farmer can procure such as will
give the best results Immediately or
he can procure fertilizers that are
more slowly soluble and which show
beneficial effects for several years, ac-
cording to the kind Of soil and the
crops grown thereon. Plant foods,
therefore, vary in composition, and
their use is dependent upon many con-
ditions which every farmer should en-
deavor to understand in order to sue
cessfully operate his farm.
The nitrogen of manure or artificial
fertilizers is the most expensive sub
stance in plant foods, and the value of
the nitrogenous materials Is largely
influenced by their solubility. Nitrate
Of soda. sulphate Of ammonia, ground
dried blood, cottonseed meal and
ground dried fish are the principal
sources Ct nitrogen. guano now being
but little used, as the supply is near
ly exhausted. the most soluble forms
Of nitrogen being nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia. The first is very
soluble; so much SO that 1t will, on
some soils, be carried away by the
rains beyond the reach of the plants
before it can be utilized by the grow
ing crop, for which reason the manu-
facturer prefers to use but small
quantity Of nitrate of soda for imme-
diate benefit, using dried blood or
cotton seed meal to continue the sup
ply of nitrogen to the plants. Sui
phate of ammonia is also soluble, but
not so much so as nitrate Of soda. Sui
phate of ammonia sooner or later be-
comes carbonate Of ammonia in the
soil, and if the land has been recently
lined, or the soil is calcareous, there
is liability of the ammonia being dis
sipated. Sulphate of ammonia should
always be well worked into the soil,
using the cultivator instead Of the har-
row, especially in summer as it may
do harm if left near the surface. caus-
ing some plants to turn yellow. 1t
may also be applied somewhat early,
as it is slower in action than nitrate,
the latter being broadcasted on the
surface and at once made available
by rains. For such crops as clover,
peas, beans and COW peas the nitrate
should be preferred. Nitrate also gives
excellent results on grain in early
spring, as the yield of straw and seed
seems to be increased, though this
will depend upon the soil, as oats.
wheat, barley and rye have been bene-
flied as we'll by the use of sulphate of
ammonia.
Plants, like animals, begin to feed
at the beginning of their existence,
and require daily supply until aged.
IS milk is the first food of young ami
mails, SO must the young plants have
ready prepared food at the start. AS
plants grow their capacity for secur-
ing food and appropriating it is in
creased, and when the supply of any
one kind is exhausted the growth Of
the plant is checked. The young calf
may thrive on milk, but there arrives
time when grain and hay are re-
quired. 1t cannot make satisfactory
growth for the farmer if either is
withheld; hence the food must be bal
anced-that is, it must comprise all
the elements required by the animal
for its advancement. In the use of nj
trogenous fertilizers, therefore, the
plants must be supplied in a manner
to promote growth until the seed Is
matured. If nitrate of soda only Is
used there will be an abundance Of
nitrogenous foods at the start, but lat
er on the supply will diminish; al
though the necessary-ph phosphorfc acid
and potash may be sufficient Farm
ers should not desire fertilizer in
which nitrate of soda only is used. A
small quantity of nitrate will be of
advantage for the plants when they
are young. but the fertilizer should al
so be fortified with dried blood, cot
tonseed meal, or some less soluble
nitrogenous substance, in order that
lie crop may have constant supply
OF nitrogen from start to finish. 1t is
also possible to continue the supply
of nitrogen by broadcasting nitrate Of
soda several times during the sea-
son, but such work Is somewhat diff
cult after plants are we'll under way,
while the nitrogen in the less solu-
BILE forms is also little cheaper
Philadelphia Record.