The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-03-17
NEEDS OF
OREGON
SOILS
From Bulletin 80 of State
Agricultural College

In the first place let IL be remem-
bered that the value Of a mere chem
ical analysis Of a soil is at most doubt.
full. An analysis of a soil reveals
what and how much Of a given ingre-
dent is present In a soil, but It does
not show how much Of the plant food
is available. There is. however, more
or less value attached TO investiga.
tions Of so-called virgin SOIL" and an
accumulated number OF analyses on
this class Of soils gives very valuable
data upon which to base a judgment
OF probable success or failure. This
matter has been more fully discussed
in Bulletin 81. to which the reader is
referred. In all cases chemical anal.
ysis should be followed by careful
field tests. and In this way anyone
may become familiar with the individ.
ual needs Of his soil. Experiments In
the field have been very limited In
this state. yet based upon the ordin.
airy methods OF Judging deficiency Of
plant food in soils, chemical analysis
OF a large number OF soils seems TO in
dicate n limited amount of potash in
the willamette valley soils. and this
would doubtless be the first ingredi.
ent needed on the lowland. and the
land seems TO point toward a
need Of phosphoric acid. The results
must. however, be taken as only indie
alive. although these chemical results
been verified In some instances
the experiment has been tried.
The loans Of Clackamas county have
shown a good supply Of potash, and a
number OF lane county soils have
shown a high content OF ~phosphoric
acid.
There Is a common idea abroad
that our soils are deficient in lime,
yet the analysis Of a large number
N soils has not shown that 20 be
true. The soils of the Willamette
Valley possesses in nearly all instanc.
~ a fair amount OF lime and on pas
ling into Eastern Oregon the lime
Is nearly doubled. In general
Is TO be the first element TO
,e suspected as being deficient on the
owlands OF the Willamette Valley
md phosphorlc acid on the uplands.
L should also be said that the up
ands are not In all cases well sup
llled with nitrogen. which Is very es.
10 fruit production. The red
lill lands possess a great power TO
this element and ammonia
md are naturally excellent fruit
ands. yet when the fruit begins 10
In size this element should
,e supplied. on the lower lands
Is a greater supply Of humus
which Is a very fair measure OF nj.
rogen and when these soils are we'll
they are likely 10 possess
,reat capacity for production II pot
ish il supplied. Tho conditions are
varied however. that, IN order for
my farmer or gardener to decide pos.
lively what kind Of fertilizer viii be
lest for him 20 use, IL will be nee
'ssary Tor him TO do some special eX
,erimentinr. II is not best In all
90 select a complete fertilizer
or often a portion Of the material Is
lot needed ~ an and the farmer may
e carrying coal TO Newcastle"
There Is one thing that should be
aid relative 20 many Of the valley
ands. viz; that for lasting benefit
n Increased return and ease OF hand
Ing carml attention would best be
20 the physical condition by
tile draining before turning
ttention 10 fertilizers. Tor IN many
instances the improvement 90 these
o%ndltions viii be an that is neces
AIRY for some time 10 come,