The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-02-12
AgriCultul
Summary OF RESULTS OF FERTILIZER
EXPERIMENTS DURING 1900.

At the Tennessee Experiment Sta
r,n last year experiments were
made in order to determine the kinds
of DIant foOd-whether phosphoric
acid. potash, or nitrOgen-and the
combinations most needed by differ
ant soils: others we're planned to be
Of more general application. To
this latter class belong in particular
the COW pea experiments and the
coupurisions between cotton seed
meal and nitrate of soda as sources
of nitrogen for potatoes
A bulletin just issued by Chemist
Charles A. MOOers says:
The results are such that the fol
loving conclusions seem warranted
First. that these is need of an i'm
Droved grain and fertilizer drill
which will put the fertilizer either
beneath the seed or to one side of
the seed so that in either case the
fertilizer and the seed will be sepa
rated by a layer of soil second, that
of the nitrOgenOus fertilizer mix
lures sold on the market only those
which contain slow acting sources of
nitrogen, such as low grade tankage
or bone, can be safely drilled in con-
tact with the seed of the small grains
and then only in limited amounts;
third, that potash salts and the
quicker acting and more desirable
sources of nitrogen, such as cotton
seed meal, blood and nitrate of soda,
and in general, large amounts of any
fertilizer cannot safely be used in
contact with the seed. -"
a careful study of the experiments
also shows the following facts re-
gurding the crops named:
POTATOES.
l. The most profitable returns
came from d complete fertilizer con-
tanning high percentages of all three
element=, nitrogen, phosphoric acid,
and potash.
?. As a source of nitrogen, cotton
seed meal gave in every instance
more profitable returns than nitrate
OF soda.
g. Nitrate of soda mixed with cot
ton seed meal was not profitable
Potatoes fertiE2ed with nitro
zen. phosphoric acid, and potash
averaged PA per cent. higher in
starch than the unfertilized ana one
per cent. higher than those fertilized
with nitrogen and phOsphoric acid
without potash.
). Potatoes grown on the Cumber
land Plateau averaged O.79 per cent.
higher in starch than those grown
in the Tennessee Valley.
CORN
The yield of corn grown on
RIVER bottom land where a rotation
CT corn. oats, clover, and grass had
been practiced was not proftably in
sraa~.l by any kind of fertilizer.
, The Weld of corn on land which
was Of more than average prOduc
Uveness but which had been cropped
IN corn and small grains cOnsecu-
lively for many years was profit
ably increased by heavy applica
uons of acid phosphate and nitrate
e. soda
3 The need of phosphOric acid was
temonstrated more clearly than that
:. any other element.
E. The grain from plants fertilized
with nitrogen averaged higher in
n.trogenous substance (prOtein) than
that from plants fertilized only with
She mineral elements, phOsphOric
sol potash
cow PEAS.
T. On exceedingly poor soil nitro
gen was not found Of any advantage
sa far as the yield of either peas or
hay was concerned, but gave
marked increase in the yield of the
crab grass which grew among the
PEI. vines.
, PhosphOric acid used alone pro
t1ced a larger yield Of the peas
.rmt shan when potash was used
with it,
3. Phosphoric acid and potash pro
duced u larger yield of hay than the
phosDhOric acid alone.
f. Potash used.alone was nOtprofit
able.
PEANUTS.
Nitrogen when added to phos-
phoric acid and potash did not in
crease the yield but lowered the