Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-10-21
How Can the Farmer Know His Soil.

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
be found in the soil, can be determ-
ined, but this examination does not
reveal whether or not these nutri-
ments are really available for the
plants. Line alone forms an excep-
ton to this rule.
The question as to whether phos-
phoric acid, nitrogen or potash should
be added to the soil can best be de
cided by the farmer himself through
a 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. If the crop on either of these
strips shows unfavorable results in
comparison with the other parts OF
the plot, to which 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 fertilized soil, the appli-
cation of the element in question is
proven unnecessary and uneconomi-
cal.
In order to decide whether or not
fertilization with phosphoric acid
would pay experiment with legumin-
Gus plant or a 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 advisability
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 10 determine the quantity
of fertilizer that should be given TO
the SOIL trial with different amounts
on small plots is recommendable
The crops should be carefully com
pared and the proportional weight
taken. After finding out which appli
cation brought the best results the
farmer has yet to consider the ques
ton how to increase in the crop
cost of the fertilization.
Through these experiments the
farmer will soon learn what fertilizers
he should apply to his soil in order
to get better and best results. At the
same time, the carrying out of these
simple tests will protect him from ul-
necessary expenses.
However. these experiments should
not be made with ready-mixed fer
tilizers, as sold in the open market
There are good many mixtures
which contain nitrogen, phosphorlc
acid and potash without due consider.
alton of the condition of the soil AS
people under different climatic con
ditions require different kinds OF
food, SO plants growing on different
kinds Of soil, require different kinds
of nurriments. Finally 1t should be
remembered that an abundance OF one
element of plant food does not make
up for the lack OF another element.
II for instance, one plant on Ger
tain soil requires a certain amount OF
potash, no other plant food elemen.
can properly fill this demand, and the
application of all other fertilizers,
even in the largest quantities, will
prove entirely useless, if the essen
tial plant food elements, OF any Of
them. is not contained In the soil.
r. f. NJ. in Oklahoma Farmer.
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