The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-02-28
How Much Fertilizer to Apply.

How Much Fertilizer to Apply.
The question, "How much fertil-
izer should be used per acre?" can
not be answered definitely, but In a
general way. 1t Is sometimes put in
this form: What is the most profit
able amount that may be applied per
acre?" Neither can the question in
the amended form be exactly and ac-
curaeely answered. The soil, its char
acter, condition, preparation, etc.,
may be well known, or controllable
factors, but we know not what the
seasons may be, says the Hon. r. ].
Redding. Director Georgia Expert
ment Station, Department Of Agricul-
ture, in the Virginia-Carolina Fer
tilizer Almanac.
We know that some crops will
bear larger amounts Of fertilizers
with reasonable assurance Of profit
able returns than may be expected
of other soils. A crop that occupies
the soil from the fall season until
spring, or early summer. will bear
heavier fertilizing than will a crop
that is planted in the spring and
ripens for harvest in midsummer.
The flrst case Is illustrated by oats,
wheat or other small grain, or grass,
especially when sown In the fall OF
the year. Such crop occupies q
soil during the late fall and winter.
and early spring-during which per-
iods the rains ere usually abundant
-ripening for harvest in late spring.
or very early summer, before the
burning summer heat and possible
drouths Of June and July. Oats and
wheat therefore are ideal crops for
liberal fertilizing.
Corn is rather On uncertain crop
on the ordinary dry uplands OF the
South. It has but short period in
which to develop its flowers-tasseis
and silks-covering bat a few days.
II very dry. weather shall prevail
when this critical period is approach
Ing, and for some time after 1t Is
passed, the crops may prove great
er or less failure. There can be no
second cso-t, NO scca-d period OF
blooming.
It is different in the case OF cott.f.
which commences to bloom and mako
fruit In June tor even earlier) and
continues throughout the summer
until checked by q severe frost IN
November. It has number OF
chances.
Cotton is therefore another ideal
crop for liberal fertil:zing. A small
amount Of fertilizers applied per acre
will no doubt yield larger per cent
age of profit on its. cost than will a
larger amount. To illustrate: an ap-
p!fcation Of 50 worth Of fertilizer per
acre may cause an increased yield
Of cotton Cat ten cents per pound)
of the value of Sc to S., or, profit
of 200 to 800 per cent. on its cast.
I have frequently had such results.
But it does not follow tat twice ss
heavy an application will produce
twice as large results. or that THREE
times as much would cause three
times as great an increase in the
yield. In other words, the rate Of
increase in the yield o: cotton will
not be in proportion to the increase
In the amount of fertilizers applied.
Two dollars worth OK fertilizer per
acre may yield an increase in the
crop Of $6; but $6 worts would not
therefore b1ing an incress,s OF $18.
But careful Observation has shown
that an application Of IS to ss worth
Of fertilizers (properly talaneed)' Is
q safe amount to apply per acre on
cotton. Many farmers In Georgia
have secured satisfactory returns
from an application Of so much as
500 pounds per acre think 600
pounds a perfectly safe limit on up-
land in fairly good condition, we'll
prepared and properly cultivated N
cotton. For corn. I would limit the
amount to 200 to 500 pounds Isr
acre on old uplands.