Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-13
A POTATO FERTILIZER.
Maine Experimental Station Issues
Interesting Bulletin.

The Station has received numerous
inquiries recently asking for a formula
for a home-miXed fertilizer for pota-
toes. The following is the substance
of the replies that have been sent:
a crop of 300 bushels of potatoes
removes from the soil about 55 pounds
nitrogen, 70 pounds phosphoric acid
and S5 pounds potash. A formula on
this basis would carry parts nitrogen,
: parts phosphoric acid and s parts
potash. In preparing a field for crop
the needs of the soil to render it fer
tile are however. of greater moment
than the special needs of Il particular
crop. The results of numerous field
experiments indicate that the potato
does best in a soil abundant1y supplied
with all fertiizing elements. In the
early stages of growth nitrogen is par
ticularly demanded and hence Il con-
siderable part of the nitrogen should
be water soluble. Later when the tu-
berS are being formed the especial de-
mand comes for phosphoric acid and
potash.
If farmer has not experimental
with his soil so as to know to what
fertilizing elements it most readily and
prOftably responds, he must use a for
lnula and one carrying about 3 to 81.
per cent. nitrogen, to per cent
available phosphoric acid and to per
cent. potash will usually be found as
profitable as any. Bearing in mind
that there is no such thing as best"
fertilizer and that different conditions
make different demands, some such
formula as the following can be salts
factOrily used per acre until by expert
mental knowledge of bis own soil re-
quirements the farmer has learned a
better one.
One hundred pounds nitrate Of soda,
eco pounds cOttOnSeed meal, 500
pounds fine bone tankage. 400 pounds
icid phosphate, and 200 pounds muri-
tte, or perhaps better Sulphate, of pot
ash. These goods are very concen-
trated and would probably be more
evenly applied if mixed with 500 pounds
Try loan, muck, or some similar fine
material. This weight of materials
would carry 62 pounds nitrogen. of
which about two-lifths is water soluble
l5S pounds phosphoric acid. of which
twO-thirds is available, and 102 pounds
potash.
While the 100 pounds Of available
Dhosphoric acid in this formula is
about four times the amount removed
by the crop, the best experimental evil
lcncc indicates that a liberal applica-
ion of available. phosphoric acid is
profitable for potatoes. Since phos-
phOric acid does not leach from the soil
the excess will be available for the fol-
lowing grain and grass crops. Follow
ing crop of potatoes MANFRED as
above, usually Il good crop of clover
could be grown by the use of 200
pounds per acre of complete fcrti-
iizer for Il starter" and 200 pounds
of muriate Of potash. This last with
the phosphoric acid left in the soil
would furnish the needed minerals. and
the clover would obtain it's needed
nitrogen from the air.
Nitrate of soda carries about 16 per
cent. nitrogen, all of which is water
soluble. High grade cOttOnseed meal.
carrying 43 per cent. of protein, has
about Z per cent nitrogen, per cent
Dhosphoric acid and / per cent. pot
ash High grade finely ground bone
tankage carries to per cent. nitro
soluble. and about Is per cent. phos- |
phOric acid, one-half of which is avail |
able. Muriate or sulphate of potash |
each carry about so per cent. potash. |
The tankage can be obtained of the |
Portland Rendering Co. Portland, the
cottonsecd meal at any feed store, and |
the chemicals of any fertilizer manu-
facturcr. The SaEadahoc Fertilizer
Co. Rowdoinham. and the Parmenter
q Polsley Fertilizer CO., Peabody.
Mass. have taken licenses to sell I'M
mixed chemicals in Maine in 1904.
CHAS. y. WOODS, Director.