St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-11-07
How Can the Farmer Know His Soil

Through chemical analysis OF the
soil the quantity in which the neces-
sary nutriments for the plants are to
De found in the soil, can be determ-
med, but this examination does not
reveal whether or not these nutri-
ments are really available for the
plants. Lime alone forms an excep-
ton to this rule.
The question as to whether phos-
phoric acid, nitrogen or potash should
be added to the sell can best be de-
cided by the farmer himself through
careful study of his particular soil.
The easiest and safest way to decide
whether fertilization with nitrate of
soda, sulphate of ammonia, etc., will
prove advantageous is by plant ex-
pertinent. On each of few well de-
fined strips of the plot one element
of plant food should be entirely omit
ted. Ii the crop On either of these
strips shows unfavorable results in
comparison with the other parts of
the plot, to which a full measure of
the other elements of plant food was
applied, the proof is given that the
| soil demands fertilization with the
element omitted. Should the crop on
the incompletely fortified strip show
| as good results as the one raised on
| completely fertilizcd soil, the appli-
cation of the element in question is
proven unnecessary and uneeonom1-
cal.
In order to decide whether or not
fertilization with phosDhoric acid
| would pay experiment with legumin'
/ GUS plant or cereal as above. Nitro
gen, phosphoric acid and potash
should be normally applied, but on
one strip the phosphoric acid should
be omitted, entirely or in part. By
the difference in the crop from this
strip, as compared with the crops
| from the other strips, the ACCESSIBILITY
of the use of phosphoric acid can be
determined. In the same way the ques
ton regarding the application of pot
ash can be settled.
In order to determine the quantity
of fertilizer that should be given tt
the soil, trial with different amounts
on small plots Is recommendable
The crops should be carefully com
pared and the proportional weigh
i taken. After finding out which applf
cation brought the best results the
farmer has yet to consider the ques
ton how to increase in the crol
stands in proportion to the highe
cost of the fertilization.
Through these experiments tn
farmer will soon learn what fertilizer
he should apply to his soil in orde
to get better and best results. At tn
same time, the carrying out of thes
simple tests will protect him from un
necessary expenses.
However, these experiments shoul'
not be made with ready-mixed fel
tilizers, as sold in the open market
There are a good many mixture
which contain nitrogen, phosphorl
acid and potash without due consider
alton of the condition OF the SOIL. A
people under different climatic cor
ditions require different kinds
food. so plants growing on differen
kinds of soil, require different kind
of nutriments. Finally it should b
remembered that an abundance OF on
element of plant food does not max
ND for the lack of another elemen
IF for instance, one plant on ce'
tain soil requires certain amount
potash, no other plant food elemer
can properly fill this demand, and tn
anp1ication of all other fertilizer
: even in the largest quantities, wi
prove entirely useless, ii the essel
tial plant food elements, or any
: them. is not contained in the Goil-
r mr.. in Oklahoma Farmer.