Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-03
IMPORTANT TO PLANT LIFE.
Value of Lime and Magnesia in Its De
veIonn1ent

Value Of Lime and Magnesia in Its De
velopment.
Ames. May Am extract from Bull
letin No. 1. bureau of plant industry
United States department of agricul-
/ ture, is as follows:
1t has long been known that lime ant
magnesia are important mineral ele-
ments in the development of plant life
| We have before us paper under the
above head by DR. Loew, who was ex-
pert in physiological chemistry in the
bureau of plant industry, United States
department of agriculture, but who has
recently gone to Japan at a much
greater salary. The conclusions ar
rived at by Dr. Loew and Mr.. May are
that the amount of available lime and
magnesium should be about equal In
order to assure the maximum growth
| for most crops. DR.. Loew states that
| the amount of lime required varies ac-
cording to the circumstances and the
nature of the crop, from 500 to 5000
pounds per acre. B5ggy and clay lands
require more lime than other soil, and
| it is preferable to add moderate guam
titles at comparatively short intervals
from three to six, rather than very
large quantity at once. Every soil may
be made more porous by the use OF
slaked lime and sandy soil will gain In
firmness, while soils that have an acid
reactionnca inl( 4cmka- W.T. lsf19 en- NIB
reaction can easily be neutralized.
Humus of course is important In any
soil, and the lime hastens the process
of decomposition. 1t has long been
known that the process of nitrification
is favored In the presence of lime.
There are many other important facts
In regard to plant growth than bear on
the subject of lime for plants, thus for
instance 1t seems to have a retarding
effect on the development OF fungi. 1t
should be noted also that while mag
nesium is an important salt mineral
constituent that an excess OF magnesl-
UNI acts injuriously.
Soil analyses show that lime ana
magnesia are widely distributed In soils
and generally in sufficient quantities
for the direct needs of plants. They
are not always in the best proportions
to each other, from physiological
standpoint, for favoring plant growth.
Magnesia in soil in great excess
ever lime in finely divided or soluable
condition is noxious to the growth OF
plants. With great excess OF lime
over magnesia the physiological action
OF the plant is hindered and 1t exhibits
phenomena of starvation. An excess OF
lime counteracts the poisonous effects
of magnesia, while the more favorable
proportion of the two bases obviates
the poor nutrition of the plant.
The best proportion of soluble mag
nesia for the termination and growth
of plants is about the molecular weight
of five to four, or actual weight OF
seven to four.
The more soluble forms of magnesia,
as. nitrate of saltpeter are in excess
more injurious to plants than the less
soluble as carbonate, while the more
soluble forms OF lime as sulphate and
nitrate are more efficient In overcom-
ing the noxious effects of magnesla
than less soluble forms as carbonate.
In applying fertilizers containing
magnesia, as in the crude potash salts,
lining should be carried on in consunc-
ton unless the soil is known to contain
an excess of lime. Where the lime con
tent Of the soil is about equal to or less
than the magnesia content, lime in
Hnely QlVlQeQ 10TH, as SUI phalS, o.Aoui"
be supplied with the fertilizer In an
amount in excess of the magnesia pres
emit in the latter
In lining soils the amount OF lime
and magnesia should be first deter
mined in both the soil and the material
applied. In this way only can the pro-
cess be intelligently carried out and the
hest ratio between the two bases for
the promotion Of the growth of crops
be maintained.