Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-01-26
AarifuItnral.
Solving Today's Nitrogen Problem

The question of an economical source
Of commercial nitrogen seems likely to
become serious one in the near future.
Up to about two years ago nitrate OF
soda was the cheapest source Of nitro
gen in the market and it has been ex-
tensively used by fertilizer manufactur-
ers and farmers who mix their own fer
tiliEers. Last spring nitrate Of soda
reached the highest point in the trade it
has for several years, and the trade re-
ports indicate that these high prices are
likely to be maintained.
Until some more abundant and cheap
er supply Of commercial nitrogen can be
found il behooves farmers to do ell they
can to increase the home. made supplies.
The supply Of phosphoric acid and Of
potash seems adequate TO meet all de-
mands for many years, and the prices
are fairly constant from year to year. 1t
has been found by recent experiments
at the New Jersey Experiment Station
that on . dairy farm. where oil milk is
sold, oil the coarse folders produced are
fed on the farm and all the grain feeds
used are purchased, that the gain to the
soil in nitrogen fertility lie considerably
greater than the gain in phosphorio acid
or potash. This means that where Q
well balanced ration is fed to the dairy
herd the manure can be relied upor
chiefly to supply nitrogen to the crops
grown.
On dairy farms the gain in potasl
seems to be the least, and much Of thu
phosphoric acid will be found in an in
soluable form in the manure, so these
two fertilizer Ingredients might well be
used in addition to what 10 found in the
manure. If muriste of potash and dis.
solved phosphate rock are mixed in the
proportion of one part Of the former tc
three parts of the latter the mixture
need not cost over S21 to 1923 o ton.
By using q mixture like this at the rate
of 400 to 500 pounds an acre the ma.
nure could be used more sparingly than
is common and SO be made to cover more
area. By feeding grains rich in nitro
gen (protein) and BY supplementing the
manure With commercial potash and
phosphoric acid, the nitrogen problem
may be mainly solved BY dairymen at
least.
Where the amount Of stock kept is
not sufficient to supply manure for all
crops grown the nitrogen may be gath
cred from the air by growing legumes,
such as the clovers, cowpeas and vetches,
and blowing them under as manure.
Here again the nitrogen of the crop
plowed under needs to be supplemented
by the adding of some commercial form
Of phosphoric acid and potash. As far
as possible the crops grown for green
manuring should be catch crops; that
is, they should be grown between the
periods covered by the growth of the
money crops. For grain growing and
for orchard work this plan Of green ma
During is an economical one ,ome crop
that may be sown in August and will
live over winter, like clover or winter
vetch, is desirable one to use
Above all else. in these times of high
priced nitrogen, the farmer should do
oil he can to prevent nitrogen losses by
caring for his manure better aud by
making use Of every available supply on
the farm. The more common sources
of loss are BY not saving the liquid ma
nure, by allowing the manure to "fire
fang" or burn, and by teaching from
manure piles Charles s. Phelps. in
American Agriculturist.