The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-02-13

One of the interesting papers pre-.
sented at the recent session of the
Grain Growers convention was that
by T. D. Beckwith, of the A. c., in a
| discussion of bacteria as related to
soil fertility. His paper is published
in full below:
1T has been stated by a New Eng.
land scientist that the soil is a great
work shop and in the light of modern
research and experiments this seems
undoubtedly true.
1T sounds too incredible to believe
but In an ounce of Fargo soil taken
near the Agricultural college build
ings there were found to be about
three hundred millions of bacteria or
germs" as they are commonly called.
To count such large number would
be quite impossible but there are sci
entific ways of estimating such results,
and SO0,000,O00 per ounce seems to be
approximately correct.
Each germ is single living organ
ism having its own place in life and
doing its own work. This work has a
direct bearing on the nature of the
soil and it has been found that the
different methods CT til!ing the soil
influence directly the life of these bac-
terra or germs, either helping or hind
ering their growth, as the case may
be. A little reflection will show you
how necessary it is to properly till the
land in order to cause these soil germs
to multiply and work to the greatest
| advantage to the farmer.
Since bacteria are present in the
soil in such numerous quantities, let
us consider them in their various and
more definite relationship to the farm.
er.
plants that we raise in the shape
of all kinds Of crops must have food.
This food, must be gotten either from
soil or air. Among the most import
ant of these plant foods are potash,
lime, phosphoric acid and nitrogen and
II we want to get the best crop we
must have the quantity of each of
these necessary constituents in right
proportion and amount. Potash, lime
and phosphoric acids may all be re.
placed with comparative cheapness,
but nitrogen is much more expensive.
Nitrogen fertilizers are becoming more
and more difficult to procure as the
visible supply becomes less. Nitro
gen is found in sufficient quantity as
yet in North Dakota, but at the pres
ent rate and by following out the
present methods of farming it is only
question of time until it will be-
come necessary for our farmers to add
sources of nitrogen to the soil. AL
ready the first signs of this need are
apparent in the changes that are seen
going on in Dakota farming. We are
becoming more and more diversified
as the wheat raising possibilities of
the country are becoming lessened.
Nitrogen, then, is the great plant
food But common air, the air that
we breathe constantly, is four.fifths
nitrogen. Since it occurs in such
large quantity all round us and cir
culated as part of air through the soil,
how is it that it is not used by the
plants? 1t seems strange that the
food needed by crops most should be
useless for their growth even when
1t Is present in such large quantities
SO constantly. Yet such is the case.
1t has been discovered that nitrogen
occurring as it does in air in the form
of gas, is quite unavailable as plant
food. 1t must be changed over into
another chemical form so that it en-
lists not as gas-nitrogen, but as
certain chemical compounds known as
nitrates and certain other combina.
lions of like nature. Nitrogen disable
as plant food is constantly being ex-
tracted by the crops and must be re-
placed.
"The method nature has created to
replace the nitrogen in soil-to build
it up SO that it shall continue rich in
plant food, is found conferred in certain
ones of these millions of germs that
are found in every ounce of the upper
crust of dirt. 1t has been discovered
that certain kinds of these countless
bacteria have the power of taking nj
trogen from air and other sources and
changing it over-building it up SO
lhoI IL oudll Uc Ill d COUQlIlOn Tor
plants use for food SO that they can
grow better These bacteria then, are
natures means put at our disposal in
order that we may keep the nitrogen
in the soil up to the necessary stand
ard of strength and usefulness. These
germs are very delicate, many of them,
and are sensitive to the various meth
DDS Of tillage used. If the farmer
treats his land rightly, tilling it prop
erly, rotating his crops to the best ad-
vantage, uncoasciously he is fostering
these helpful bacteria and thus OBJ
tains better returns from his crops.
But these kindly germs of the soil
have other uses besides building up
nitrogen to make nitrates and other al.
lied plant foods. Every bit of manure
that you put on your land to fertilize
1t, has to be changed over so that the
crops may use it. All sorts of organic
fertilizer that you use as crops or
stubble that you turn under has to be
broken down in order that the crops
Lott ~